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LONGVIEW — Two fires were reported last night near Longview’s Ingram Park where a series of suspicious fires have been reported this week. One fire last night was near the intersection of Jonquil Drive and Tulip Lane and another was near Cargill Long Park Trail off of Fourth Street.

Investigators are trying to determine of last night’s fires are connected to a string of fires in that are now ruled arson and authorities are searching for a suspect. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said he believes the suspect is connected to 11 fires in the Ingram Park area in seven days. Firefighters were sent to an afternoon grass and woods fire on Pegues Place that burned about half an acre of land. Another fire was reported later Tuesday afternoon, and a third fire around 7:25 edged upon the Bramlette Elementary School building but did not ignite the campus. The fire department and police department have increased patrols in the area, but are asking the public for help.

MARSHALL — Two Harrison County residents have been charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

Randy Lee Smart, 51, of Marshall, and Tamara Lynn Olivares, 53, of Harleton, were arrested Tuesday after being named in a 128-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week, following an investigation into methamphetamine manufacturing in the Harrison County area. Smart and Olivares appeared before U.S. District Judge Chad Everingham Tuesday for an initial appearance. If convicted, the defendants each face up to life in federal prison.

According to information presented in court, an investigation revealed that over an 18 month period, the defendants each purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine with intentions to manufacture methamphetamine. Approximately 60 purchases were made at more than 15 locations in four cities in east Texas, sometimes more than once a day.

TYLER – A Mexican national has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to failing to register as a sex offender. Concepcion Baldelamar, 49, pleaded guilty to failure to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act when he appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

Federal prosecutors say in April, Baldelamar was found to be in the United States after having been previously deported to Mexico following a conviction in Camp County, Texas for indecency with a child sexual contact. Baldelamar failed to register as a sex offender, as required, upon his illegal re-entry to the United States in March 2009. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in June.

TYLER – A 26-year-old Malakoff man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a massive credit card scheme. Christopher Scott Michael pleaded guilty on May 10 to access device fraud and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Michael was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $94,843.25.

According to information presented in court, on August 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at Michael’s residence, during which 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. Further investigation revealed that Christopher Michael, his brother, Nathan Michael, Elizabeth Pickrell and Corey Davis conspired together to commit access device fraud in Henderson and Smith counties.

The four defendants 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 Nov. 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes. Nathan Michael, Pickrell and Davis have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches police are looking for three men said to have kicked in the door to a man’s home, assaulting him before robbing both the man and his wife. According to KETK and the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, the incident was reported at about 9:45 p.m. Monday and happened in the 2200 block of Beverly Drive.

“Three unknown individuals, armed with what appeared to be rifles, kicked the door in, demanded property from the man and they did assault him during the offense,” Nacogdoches Police Department Sgt. Chasen Partin said. The man was kicked and hit multiple times and was treated and released from the hospital for his injuries. Three children were in the home at the time, but it is unknown if they saw the attack. “Unfortunately, his wife arrived in the middle of the situation, so she is a victim also and they did obtain a small amount of cash from his wife,” Partin said. The man was the only person injured.

EAST TEXAS — Several cities in East Texas have experienced water line disruptions in recent weeks. In some cases, city officials are blaming the record heat, but others say broken pipes happen year-round. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, city spokesman Shawn Hara said Longview has had about four line breaks in the past two weeks. “A number of factors can contribute to water line breaks, including the age of the infrastructure, any ground movement, drought conditions, and system demands,” Hara said. “It can be very difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for which a water line failed.”

Sean Pate, Gladewater city manager, said the excessive heat and drought have contributed to city water line breaks in the past month, but not for the reasons most people might assume. “It’s not so much the extra water usage, although that might be contributing to the problem,” Pate said. “The main factor causing breakage is that the ground is shifting because of the temperatures and drought conditions, which causes some of the older pipes to break.”

LONGVIEW — Gregg County commissioners on Monday proposed decreasing the county’s 2011-12 tax rate by a quarter of a cent. Most homeowners’ tax bills would remain the same, but the new rate is expected to generate more money for the county because of new property added to tax rolls in the past year, County Judge Bill Stoudt said. The 2010-11 tax rate of 26.75 cents would be dropped to 26.5 cents in 2011-12 if the court adopts it later this month. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, commissioners scheduled public hearings on the proposed rate at 9 a.m. Aug. 17 and Aug. 22.

HENDERSON — Henderson voters will get to vote on two proposals to legalize alcohol sales in the city. The Rusk County Commissioners Court on Monday ordered the issue be put to voters on the November ballot. County Judge Joel Hale and Elections Administrator Kathie Wittner emphasized that county officials were neither supporting nor opposing the propositions. After having been presented with valid petitions requesting the propositions be placed on a ballot, the court was legally required to call the election. The petitions required at least 997 valid signatures. Wittner has verified each petition had more than 1,100 valid signatures. “State law doesn’t really give the court any options on this issue,” Wittner said. “Just because the commissioners order the election, that doesn’t mean they’re in favor of the propositions.”

According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the election is set for Nov. 8. The first proposal would legalize the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. The second would allow for the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders. Henderson resident Lanette Weaver spoke against the propositions during the public comments section of the meeting. “I’m very opposed to it,” she said. “I’ve already lost two family members due to drunk driving, and I don’t want to lose any more. This proposal will just lead to honky-tonks all around Henderson.” Weaver said she plans to form a political action committee to oppose the propositions.

Weldon Gray, treasurer of the pro-wet Henderson 1st Committee, said his group has encountered mostly positive reactions to the proposals. Gray says the purpose of the proposals is to attract more businesses to Henderson, particularly chain restaurants that want to serve mixed drinks without having to apply for private club status.

GLADEWATER — The 56-year-old man shot by Gladewater police died of “gunshot wounds,” according to a preliminary autopsy report, possibly indicating he was shot more than once. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the cause of death was listed as homicide. Investigators have not released information about how many times Willie B. Green of Gladewater was shot August 2 by police who said he charged three officers with a knife at a furniture store in the 200 block of South Main Street. All three officers — whose names will not be released until the investigation is complete — were placed on paid administrative leave.

Gladewater Police Chief Farrell Alexander said officers were dispatched to B&C Furniture about 11:15 a.m. August 2 in connection with a report of a fight in the alley behind the business. When police arrived, Alexander said, three officers entered the store and found Green with a knife. “There was only one officer involved in the shooting, and a total of three officers present,” he said last week. “Tasers were used by two separate officers prior to the use of deadly force by the third officer.”

SMITH COUNTY — No injuries were reported in an early morning house fire in Smith County. It started around 1:00 yesterday morning at 8036 County Road 313 East. According to officials with the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office, two people were able to escape from the mobile home by crawling through the windows. Fire investigators say the blaze was sparked by a cell phone charger overheating in an outlet.

TYLER — The bed of a truck caught fire on Hwy 271 near UT Health in Tyler on Monday afternoon. Officials say several passers-by pulled over to help the drivers of the truck put the fire out before it spread to nearby dry grass. People even removed their shirts and used them to help extinguish the blaze. The truck’s driver said he had no idea how the fire began. The driver reportedly saw smoke coming from the bed of the truck and by the time he had pulled over, it had escalated to a large fire.

HARRISON COUNTY — A Kilgore man was killed and a Longview man was injured in a chain reaction of crashes that left westbound Interstate 20 blocked for nearly 12 hours Monday. Randy Arthur Bradley, 60, of Kilgore was pronounced dead at the scene. Agie Cook, 47, a truck driver from Longview, was injured in the pileup involving two tractor-trailer trucks and a pickup. He was in stable condition at a Longview hospital.

East Texas – Firemen around the area battled the high temperatures and several grass fires Monday. The largest was a 100 acre fire off Farm Road 47 near Interstate Highway 20 West of Canton. Nearly a dozen fire departments brought that Van Zandt County blaze under control.

Firemen from seven Smith County fire departments contained a fire in northern Smith County. Around 45 acres burned of County Road 370. The fire is said to have been caused by a front end loader.

A 25 acre fire has been extinguished off County Road 354 near Winona. For a while some structures were in danger, but no buildings were damaged.

Another fire was reported a couple of miles south of State Highway 31 off County Road 246.

MOUNT VERNON – A one vehicle accident near the 150 mile marker on Interstate Highway 30 in Franklin County has left one person dead and one injured. The accident occurred around 12:45 Monday morning. Killed was Michael L. Anderson, 39, of Texarkana. Slightly injured was Jonnitta Lambert, 21, of Texarkana. According to the Department of Public Safety, Anderson’s SUV had a tire blow out. His vehicle ran off the interstate and overturned.

TYLER – Tyler school trustees have filled three district positions. The action came at a meeting Monday.

The new principal at Hubbard Middle School will be D. Scott Farler, who is pictured here. He has 12 years of education experience. Prior to joining Tyler ISD, Farler worked in Farmersville ISD where he was a junior high school principal and a high school assistant principal. He will begin his new position effective August 10.

Hired as Director of Student Services was Ken Vaughn. Vaughn has 13 years of education experience. Prior to joining Tyler ISD, he worked in Lamar CISD where he was an assistant principal and math/computer technology teacher. He will begin his new position effective August 9.

And named as Director of Guidance and Counseling was Marty Barbieri. She has 22 years of education experience. Prior to joining Tyler ISD, Barbieri worked in Overton ISD where she was a high school counselor and an elementary school counselor. She will begin her new position effective August 15.

SMITH COUNTY — After a two-county chase on I-20, Van Zandt and Smith County troopers say they were able to stop a woman running from law enforcement with a spike strip. According to law officers, the driver, Tammy Scarborough, tried to evade authorities at speeds up to 90 mph after not initially pulling over for speeding. Authorities say Scarborough did pull over two times, but then sped off and was eventually stopped with the spike strip. Scarborough is charged with evading arrest.

RED SPRINGS — A Flint man is ticketed after a business owner allegedly caught the man urinating on his lawn and stealing from his business. Red Springs Motorcycle owner David Winters, also a former peace officer, tells KETK he first saw the man hanging around the store Monday morning. Winters says the man returned later and started to urinate at Winters’ house near the business. Winters says he ran the man off his property, but that the suspect circled around to the back of the shop and jumped the fence. Then the former officer reportedly discovered the man had been stealing in the back and pulled out his gun.

According to authorities, the alleged burglar tried to run, but stopped in his tracks after three warning shots were fired. Winters says he held the man at gunpoint until law officers arrived and cited the man. The name of the accused man has not been released.The Smith County Sheriff’s and Constables Office responded to the incident.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department has recently received a complaint regarding door to door sales people advertising to paint the address number on the curb. Citizens are encouraged to check out thoroughly any vendor soliciting products or services prior to conducting business with that company or individual. The Department wants all area residents to be aware of the following facts about door to door sales persons:

• Anyone selling goods or services door to door in the City of Longview is required to have a permit issued by the Longview Police Department with their photo, name and company information on it.

• Because someone has a permit issued by the Police Department to sell door to door does not mean the Police Department or the City of Longview has endorsed a vendor, their goods or services. The permit only means the vendor has registered with the Police Department and the vendor has agreed to abide by state laws and applicable city ordinances while selling their product.

• The Longview Police Department recommends residents to check out a business through the Better Business Bureau before entering into any contracts or purchasing products. The Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas can be contacted in Tyler online at http://easttexas.bbb.org or at 903-581-5704.

• Longview City ordinance requires a vendor to leave immediately if you tell them you are not interested in their goods or services. If a vendor refuses to leave, contact the police and ask for an officer to respond. Violations of the city ordinance can result in the revocation of a vendor’s sales permit.

• The Longview Police Department encourages citizens to contact their Police Area Representative (PAR Officer) if they have questions, comments, or concerns about an issue occurring in their neighborhood. Visit http://www.Longviewpolice.com to find out what PAR Officer is assigned to a particular area of town.

TROUP — The City of Troup have requested that residents curtail non-essential water consumption till further notice, i.e. watering lawns and washing cars, due to heat-related equipment problems with the city’s wells. Officials say the malfunctions have been resolved, but storage levels became low, though they are said to be gradually recovering. According to KETK, city officials expect water storage levels should be normal by this morning.

LONGVIEW — Two local teens have been arrested in a Longview school break-in. On Sunday at 2:30 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 1500 Block of Lake Drive for a business alarm at Bramlette Elementary School. After Officer James Lucas arrived he began walking around the school and saw two youths looking out a window of the school. According to a police statement, officers set up a perimeter around the school and the suspects fled on foot. Police say both suspects were located a short time later and arrested for burglary of a building and evading arrest. According to authorities, the two suspects caused extensive damage to the teachers’ workroom and lounge. Both were transported to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Facility.

LONGVIEW — A suspect is caught in a weekend hit-and run in Longview. On Sunday, police arrested Jonathan Soto Estrada, 21, of Longview for accident involving serious bodily injury or death. Estrada’s arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by Longview police in connection with the hit and run of a man earlier that day in the 200 Block of Magnolia Lane. Police say the victim was walking with a friend shortly after 5:45 a.m. when he was struck by the vehicle. The victim has been identified as 37 year-old Charles Edward Leatch. Leach remains in a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Estrada’s bond has been set at $50,000.

TYLER — Grassroots America – We the People Executive Director JoAnn Fleming says Governor Perry brings excitement to the race for the White House, even though he hasn’t announced his candidacy yet. But Fleming says Perry has some unfinished business in Texas first: the Sanctuary Cities Bill. In a couple of weeks, says Fleming, she and her colleagues will deliver a letter to Perry with thousands of signatures of citizens all across the state asking him to take care of that issue. Fleming says Perry can make an executive decision.

LIBERTY CITY — Texas Department of Public Safety officials confirmed Monday that Brian Scott Carr, 31, died during the weekend from injuries sustained in a July 22 hit-and-run incident in Liberty City. According to Trooper Robbie Dillard, Carr, who had Down Syndrome, died Saturday night at Good Shepherd Medical Center.

DPS officials said Carr was hit at about 5:00 July 22 near the intersection of Rice Road and Debbie Street in Liberty City while he was pushing his bike along the road. Dillard said after the incident, Carr told first responders that he had been hit by a white van, but officials have yet to make an arrest.

The suspect’s vehicle could have passenger side, front-end and mirror damage. Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to contact the DPS office at 903-758-1789.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a reported shooting at an apartment complex. It happened around 12:50 yesterday morning at the Southwest Pines Apartments, 3200 Walton Road. Several victims say they were approached by five or six unknown suspects that began shooting at them as they sat in their car. Police say the victims managed to escape the apartment complex unharmed before the suspects, described as black males, fled the area, possibly in a blue 4 door Crown Victoria. The scene and the victim’s vehicle were processed for evidence and the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police or Crimestoppers.

GLADEWATER — Some residents in Gladewater are being asked to boil their water until further notice. This impacts residents south of U. S. Highway 80. The problem stems from a water main break Saturday on U.S. Highway 271. Once the water is restored, residents south on US 80 are asked to boil their water until the order is lifted.

TYLER — A child has been released from the hospital following a near-drowning over the weekend. An off-duty law officer is being credited with reviving the small boy after he was pulled from a Tyler swimming pool. Saturday afternoon around 1:45, Tyler police were dispatched to 6519 Rochester Way on a possible drowning. Upon arrival, officers were told that the residents were having a birthday party for a three-year-old boy. During the party, the youngster was found on the bottom of the residence’s swimming pool. Family members were able to remove the child from the bottom of the pool and discovered that the child was not breathing and unresponsive.

Tyler Police Officer Jimmy Turner was off duty and attending the birthday party. Officer Turner was called to the child’s location and began to perform CPR on the child. Officer Turner was able to revive the child, who began to breathe on his own. The child was transported to Mother Frances Hospital by ETMC EMS. At the hospital, the child was awake and speaking. The child was later flown to Children’s Hospital in Dallas as a precaution. He was released from that hospital later in the weekend.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

GREGG COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to continue work in Gregg County this week. That includes work Monday on Farm Road 2205 between Loop 281 and State Highway 31, and State Highway 322 between State Highway 149 and Farm Road 2011.

Also Monday, TxDOT maintenance crews began seal coat work on U.S. Highway 80 west of Fisher Road in Longview, followed by a hot-mix resurfacing in the same area later in the week, and on South Loop 281 between Farm Road 2087 and Estes Parkway. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress and flaggers will control traffic in two lane areas. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin two weeks of resurfacing operations on State Highway 37 between Quitman and Winnsboro. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic in two-lane areas.

ATHENS — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on SH 31 Business in Athens between State Highway 19 Business and NE Loop 7. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 79 in Henderson and then later in the week on U.S. Highway 259 in and around Mount Enterprise. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

OWENTOWN — With voluntary water restrictions already in effect, mandatory restrictions kick in today for a utility district that serves some Smith County residents. As in other area cases, officials with the Owentown-based Smith County Municipal Utility District #1 cite ongoing dry weather. According to KETK and press materials from the district, the water system is under Stage I Water-Use Restrictions. This means that water use is restricted in the following ways:

1. Voluntary Restrictions:
• Customers are encouraged to limit nonessential water use to prevent further restrictions.

2. Mandatory Outdoor Restrictions:
• Usage of water for outdoor purposes, such as lawns, gardens, and car washing, is restricted to Saturday & Sunday or 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
• Outdoor water use is not allowed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during the week.
• Washing of motor vehicles and filling pools are prohibited during the week.
• Washing of sidewalks, driveways, and other hard surfaces is prohibited.

Officials say failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this notice will result in one warning, thereafter a $250 fine for residential, $1000 for non-residential, and termination of water service till the fine is paid. Once the mandatory restrictions take effect Monday, they will remain in effect until customers receive written notice of termination of emergency.

HENDERSON — The Rusk County Commissioners Court will consider a petition today to place a measure legalizing alcohol sales in Henderson on the November ballot. Although the petition is for the City of Henderson, the court must vote to put it on the ballot, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Weldon Gray, treasurer of the Henderson 1st Committee, said that his group has encountered mostly positive reactions to the proposals.

There are two separate proposals. One would allow the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption, which would allow grocer and convenience stores to sell beer and wine, but would not permit packaged liquor sales. The second would allow for the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders, which would permit restaurants to serve mixed drinks without a private club license. “We haven’t run into any organized opposition to the proposals,” Gray said. “There have been maybe three or four individuals who have expressed their disapproval of the idea, but we’ve mostly had a positive response.”

Gray says the purpose of the proposals is to attract more businesses to Henderson, particularly chain restaurants that want to serve mixed drinks without having to apply for private club status. The group will probably start advertising and holding information sessions about the proposals as the election grows nearer, Gray said. The county commissioners gather this morning at 10:00.

TYLER — Residents gathered outside the would-be site of Tyler’s Double D Ranch Saturday in support of the restaurant. Some in Tyler are concerned about the revealing outfits worn by female Double D employees. They cite the restaurant’s proximity to Toys R Us and Robert E. Lee High School. But Amber Danner-Kirk has started a Facebook page boycotting Toys R Us, which in fact owns the planned site of the restaurant. Toys R Us sought and got a restraining order, at least temporarily holding off plans for the Tyler Double D Ranch. Danner-Kirk told KETK she doesn’t think Double D is at all degrading to women. She says, “I think that the woman has a choice to work there or not, and as a woman, you have a choice to go there or not.” East Texan Sherry Sneed says for the Double D supporters, it’s all about rights. Sneed says, “We’re not interested in telling people, hey, you have to eat here…but we don’t want people telling us that we can’t.”