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LUBBOCK — The race for Texas agriculture commissioner between two East Texans is getting nasty. Democrat Hank Gilbert of Whitehouse says incumbent Republican Todd Staples of Palestine is at fault for the death of a Lubbock toddler. Vantashia Samuels died from inhaling fumes. Her family purchased pesticides supplied by an employee who wasn’t licensed to do so. Gilbert blames Staples for lax regulations and inspection, saying, “He knew this agency was understaffed when it came to regulatory inspectors. He did nothing.” In a statement, Staples said Gilbert has stooped to an all-time low with what he calls the latest false, libelous and slanderous accusation.

TYLER — Brookshire’s Grocery Company announces the big winner of its “Thanks a Million Collect and Win” game.
Ferral Bonnette of Tyler brings home $50,000. Numerous customers participated, picking up game pieces in the checkout line.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department holds an outstanding warrant for a 2nd degree felony robbery charge on the suspect allegedly involved in Wednesday’s robbery of a Family Dollar Store. He has been identified as 36-year-old Michael Wayne West. Police are investigating the robbery shortly after noon Wednesday at the store, located at 530 S.S.E. Loop 323. Officers were advised that a man entered the business and demanded money from the clerk. He did not display a weapon. The clerk gave him an undetermined amount of money. The man ran out of the store and got into a black SUV. The SUV was occupied by two women. A Smith County deputy constable followed the SUV and saw the man and one woman get out of the SUV at the Super 1 Foods located at 1105 East Gentry. The SUV then drove to the Family Dollar store located at 1401 E. Gentry.

Officers contacted the remaining woman in the SUV and arrested her for the robbery. Officers were advised that the two other suspects were seen leaving the Super 1 Foods. Officers were able to locate the second female suspect in the area of E. Line and Anderson Street in Tyler and arrested her for the robbery. Officers are continuing to search for the man. He’s described as around 6 feet tall weighing about 180 pounds, thin build and last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie. The two females arrested have been identified as Lara Michelle Trumble, 37, of Tyler, and Amber Cordell Martin, 33, of Jacksonville. The woman have been transported to the Smith County Jail.

Anyone with information about West is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to his arrest.

TYLER — VOTE YES Committee Co-Chairs Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber say their committee’s continuing a push to inform the public about the TISD bond proposal on the November ballot, which VOTE YES supports. Eltife and Seeber say 17 informational meetings have been scheduled in the last two weeks before the election. The $89.8 million dollar package is Phase 3 of the ongoing plan to finish the work started on elementary schools and to build a new middle school relief campus for overcrowding and growth. Eltife and Seeber say the bond package can be funded with the current debt service tax rate and does not require a tax rate increase.

“We will continue right up to election day to do our best to inform the voters. We can finish the job we started on elementary schools and build a relief campus for middle school overcrowding with no increase in the tax rate. We believe the more information we can provide the taxpayers on this bond proposal the more they will like it. These public presentations allow the public to gather information on the bond proposal and to ask whatever questions they may have,” Eltife said.

Seeber added, “As we get additional requests from service groups and community organizations we will do our best to accommodate them in the short period of time we have until the election on November 2. We’re all working hard to make sure everyone gets as much information as possible before election day. Members of the TISD Administration and Board Members will make the presentations and answer questions and the Vote Yes Committee will continue to work to promote the bond proposal.” The public is also invited to join the VOTE YES Committee. For more information, you can call the campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).

The citizen group Grassroots America – We the People (GAWTP) is opposing the bond issue, saying it entails too many unanswered questions. GAWTP also claims that information bond backers are supplying on tax impact is misleading. GAWTP recently requested that VOTE YES and TISD schedule a town hall meeting on the bond issue.

TYLER — A date has been set for closure of the downtown Tyler Post Office. Officials say the facility will shut its doors November 30. City officials confirmed the closure plan Thursday. It’s happening despite a petition that circulated in August, trying to keep the facility open. KETK reports the two downtown employees will be transferred to the main post office on Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard.

LUFKIN –A Hudson couple was arrested on methamphetamine charges after a concerned citizen reported a chemical smell in a trailer park Tuesday night. According to KETK, Hudson Police responded to Hudson Heights mobile home park Tuesday night, discovering the “chemical smell” reported to be an active “shake and bake” meth lab inside the home of Melissa Brown, 31, and Marshall Kelley, 44.

Upon arriving, Hudson Police Officer Joe Burton cleared the home of Brown, Kelley, a female house guest and the woman’s 7-year-old child. Another man was then discovered “within reach” of the meth lab in a bathroom, according to Hudson Police Chief Jeff Burns.

LONGVIEW — A Longview maintenance man at a mental heath facility was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting at least one woman where he worked, according to police records. According to court documents, the woman was a patient at Heavenly Care Community Home, in the 400 block of Main Street. Calvin Laforest Hutchings, 48, who was Heavenly Care’s maintenance man and lived one block away, forced the woman to have sex with him multiple times. According to the Longview News-Journal, Hutchings remained jailed at last report on $10,000 bond.

BIG SANDY – A Big Sandy High School student has been arrested for giving her friend drugs at school. The friend later died. Charged Wednesday with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance in a school zone was Ashley Williamson, 17. She is said to have given the drugs to Britnee Mount, 16. A week ago, Mount had a heart attack at her home. She later died at Children’s Hospital in Dallas. Authorities feel the drugs may have been responsible for Mount’s death. Additional charges could be filed in the case.

TYLER — The 77th annual Texas Rose Festival continues through today. This year’s Ladies’ Brunch featured New York Times best-selling author Sandra Brown. Legendary financier T. Boone Pickens keynoted the Men’s Luncheon. Both of those events were held yesterday. Also yesterday was the Queen’s Coronations. Today, with ideal weather, the usual big crowds are expected for the Rose Parade. This year’s festival theme is “A Tapestry of Blessings.” You can go to http://www.texasrosefestival.com or check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for more information.

MONROE, La. (AP) – Three finalists, including one from Tyler, have been named for consideration as the next president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Interviews with the three will begin on Oct. 22. The finalists are Peter J. Fos, provost and executive vice president at the University of Texas at Tyler; Nick J. Bruno, vice president for business and finance for the University of Louisiana System; and Thomas F. Moore, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Winthrop University. The final decision will be made by the University of Louisiana System Board.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It may seem like an unlikely move. But 87-year-old Rockwall Congressman Ralph Hall — first elected in 1980, and a longtime East Texas representative — has signed the U.S. term limits Constitutional amendment. The measure would limit House members to three two-year terms and senators to two six year terms. Hall, now a Republican, says he introduced a term limits bill in the 90s, when he was a Democrat — but says the bill went nowhere. According to Hall, “Even though I’ve been there thirty years, I would have term-limited myself.” He says he wouldn’t be on Capitol Hill if he could have passed the measure. So why does he keep running? Hall remarks that he knows and likes what he does — and that his people want him to keep doing it. A recent Fox News poll showed nearly 80 percent approval for term limits.

LONGVIEW — Authorities in Longview arrest a drug suspect. On October 12 at around 6:30 p.m., the Gregg County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit executed a narcotics search warrant at 801 Buchanan Street. Authorities say agents made entry into the residence without incident and located approximately 10 ounces of crack cocaine, worth an estimated street value of $30,000. 35-year-old Bob Huiett Jr. of Longview was arrested and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Huiett Jr. was booked into the Gregg County Jail.

TYLER —To help students learn the benefits of a nutritious diet early in life, the Texas Department of Agriculture is promoting National School Lunch Week, Oct. 11-15. Officials say this year’s theme, “School Lunch – What’s on Your Tray?,” is designed to help students learn that eating a healthy school lunch is essential to getting the most out of each day. During National School Lunch Week, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples visited Orr Elementary School in Tyler to tour the school and eat lunch with students. Commissioner Staples says he’s committed to working with districts across the state to ensure children have access to healthy meals that will allow them to excel in the classroom and in life.

“Right now, taxpayers are picking up the tab for poor eating choices,” Commissioner Staples said. “It’s estimated each year Texas taxpayers spend nearly $5.8 billion on avoidable obesity-attributable health care costs. By educating students on the need to adopt the 3E’s of Healthy Living —Education, Exercise and Eating Right, children have the opportunity to grow up healthy and keep our economy strong. National School Lunch Week is the perfect occasion to remind students and their parents that adopting a healthy lifestyle is an investment in our future.”

This year’s National School Lunch Week marks one year since the full implementation of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy (TPSNP). According to Staples, the TPSNP sets nutrition standards above and beyond federal guidelines. Staples says that’s so Texas students have access to the highest quality school lunches served in an overall environment that eliminates or restricts the availability of carbonated beverages, candy, foods prepared through deep-fat frying methods, and other foods said to have minimal nutritional value.

Staples says the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Summer Nutrition Programs significantly increase the nutritional mealtime options to children at school. But he says the battle against poor eating and lifestyle choices must also be waged at home. According to Staples, encouraging youth to adopt the 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right – helps them make decisions that can lead to active, healthy lives.

National School Lunch Week was established in 1963 to help raise awareness of the role the National School Lunch Program has in the nutritional health of students. The National School Lunch Program provides low-cost or free lunches for more than 3 million Texas schoolchildren daily. In 2003, the Texas Department of Agriculture became the state’s administering agency for the program in public schools. In 2007, TDA began administering the National School Lunch Program for private and faith-based schools in the state.

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Republican State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler says he’s dropping out of the Texas House speaker’s race. Conservative Warren Chisum, a Republican from Pampa, filed his speaker candidacy paperwork Wednesday with the House Ethics Commission in Austin. Berman says he’ll support Chisum, who’s been considering a run for several weeks. Chisum is challenging incumbent Republican Speaker Joe Straus, a moderate from San Antonio who took over as speaker in 2009. Chisum has said he wants to make sure experienced leaders are in place to tackle the state’s mounting budget shortfall in 2011.