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TYLER — Two men, one from Rusk County, have entered guilty pleas in Tyler federal court in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases. Derrick Duwayne Walker, 23, of Henderson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2009, Walker was found in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Walker was also indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced.

In a separate case, Dannis Ivan Villarreal, 24, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on IH-20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and charged with drug trafficking violations. Villarreal faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set for either man.

TYLER – Two men enter guilty pleas in Tyler federal court in separate methamphetamine trafficking cases. 24-year-old Dannis Ivan Villarreal of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 25, 2010, Villarreal was stopped for a traffic violation on IH-20 near Longview. A search of the vehicle revealed 13 lbs. of methamphetamine hidden in a secret compartment built into the vehicle. Villarreal was transporting the drugs from Dallas to Georgia. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and charged with drug trafficking violations. Villarreal faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison.

In a separate case, Derrick Duwayne Walker, 23, of Henderson, Texas, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on Jan. 21, 2009, Walker was found in possession of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Walker was also indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced. Sentencing dates have not been set for either man.

TYLER — Southside Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBSI) is announces that Chairman and CEO B. G. Hartley will preside over the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square on Monday October 4, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. CDT. “We will be ringing the Opening Bell at NASDAQ as part of Southside’s 50th anniversary celebration,” said Hartley. “We are honored to celebrate this milestone with one of our most valued partners. Our association with NASDAQ has been extremely positive, providing Southside Bancshares, Inc. increased exposure that has been an integral part of our growth.”

TYLER — Senator Kevin Eltife and former Mayor Joey Seeber have announced that the VOTE YES Committee will again support the Tyler Independent School District Bond election set for November 2. The VOTE YES Committee comprises a community-wide group of citizens voicing their support of TISD and the proposed bond package. The committee was originally formed in 2004 in support of the successful Phase 1 bond proposal, and VOTE YES also worked for the successful passage of the Phase 2 bond in 2008. Eltife and Seeber co-chaired the past two VOTE YES committees in both the 2004 and 2008 bond elections.

As part of the Master Facilities Plan, Phase 3 includes replacement schools for Dixie Elementary and Rice Elementary, which will conclude all of the elementary work by either rebuilding or remodeling all elementary campuses within TISD. With all elementary work completed, the District takes its first step in Phase 3 to include a new middle school which will be located in Southwest Tyler. Eltife and Seeber say based on the age, capacity for growth and condition of the aging portable buildings on their campuses, it becomes more cost effective to build and maintain replacement schools. The 2010 Bond proposal totals $89.85 million, and Eltife and Seeber say it’s projected to come with no change in the tax rate.

Eltife says, “We fully recognize that these are tough economic times and we hope to educate the voters on the need to continue with our phased approach to upgrading our school facilities. School bond issues are a way for the local voters to have input in the process and we fully respect the will of the voters. We hope we can earn their support. And we welcome anyone who would like to join our VOTE YES Committee.” Seeber added, “No great community is built without great public schools. I am proud to enthusiastically endorse this Bond Proposal and encourage others to join me and the VOTE YES Committee.” For more information, you can call the VOTE YES campaign office at 903-360-VOTE (8683).

TYLER — On Thursday, Tyler Police Investigators arrested a second suspect in connection to the homicide of Ronnie Kemp that occurred in Winters Park. The suspect is 18-year-old Amie Catherine Dean of Tyler. She’s the daughter of 60-year-old Sharieff Hussein Dean, who was arrested on Wednesday. Amie Dean was charged with capital murder for retaliation, and her bond was set at $1,000,000 by Judge Judge Skeen. The elder Dean was charged with the same crime, and his bond was set at the same amount. Police say Kemp’s murder occurred on July 5. That night, officers were dispatched to the park at 910 S. Peach Street in reference to a welfare concern. Upon arrival, officers located the body of the 48-year-old Kemp, a Tyler resident.

TYLER — The Texas Association of Regional Councils announces that one of its Citizen Corps Custom Trailers is being awarded to the Smith County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) serving within the East Texas Council of Governments region. “This award is given in recognition of outstanding community outreach work by the Smith County CERT Program, under the direction of Emergency Management Coordinator Oren Hale,” Executive Director of the Texas Association of Regional Councils Penny Redington said. The Smith County CERT program has been recognized as an outstanding program for their Citizen Corp services and local outreach efforts. The trailer will be used by the Smith County CERT team for transporting equipment during deployments, for training and drills and for public awareness events.

TYLER — Two persons are in custody in connection with a south Tyler robbery. It happened just before 5:30 Wednesday afternoon in the 5500 block of South Broadway. The victim told officers he was robbed at gunpoint of an undetermined amount of money. The victim, in his vehicle, then followed the two suspects to the 4600 block of Plauxy Drive. That’s where officers first located the vehicle. They stopped it in the 2400 block of McDonald Road. The two suspects were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and placed in the Smith County Jail pending arraignment. No injures were reported.

TYLER — A Gregg County man has been sentenced to federal prison for money laundering. Dantrel Robert, 28, of Longview, pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced Wednesday to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Robert was also ordered to forfeit $30,000.00.

According to information presented in court, Robert was involved in a drug trafficking scheme which involved money being sent to California where it was used to buy illegal prescription drugs, such as codeine and hydrocodone. The prescription drugs were then smuggled from California to East Texas for distribution. After the illegal prescription drugs were sold in East Texas, the money was sent back to California to purchase more drugs, luxury vehicles and other property. A 14-count federal indictment was returned by a grand jury on June 3, 2009, charging Robert and 6 other individuals with conspiracy to comment money laundering.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A Mount Pleasant man is to report to federal prison on Veterans Day for falsely claiming blindness to get veterans benefits. Former U.S. Marine Jim Bob Shipp begins his 63-month sentence on November 11, and must repay more than $800,000. Shipp maintains his innocence and says he’ll appeal.

RUSK — A woman has lost her life in a Cherokee County fire. The body of Anita Perry was found in the wreckage of her burned home Tuesday night. The house is located outside of Rusk on Farm Road 768. The mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when firemen arrived on the scene. Along with Perry, her pet dog and cat were also found dead in the wreckage. The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in a bed room, remains under investigation.

TYLER (AP) — A Tyler man must serve 45 years in prison over a fatal stabbing during a party at a Smith County deputy sheriff’s home. Prosecutors say Joshua Dwain Barnes on Wednesday pleaded guilty to murder in a plea agreement. Barnes also apologized over the Dec. 27, death of James Brandon Lee.

Barnes, who served in the U.S. Army in Iraq, originally claimed self defense, but prosecutors said his recorded confession to police would be used at trial. Barnes and Lee had argued at a party of then-Deputy Terry Helms Lindsey of Tyler.

Lindsey in June was sentenced to 10 years of probation and six months in jail after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators say Lindsey, who was off duty, beat Barnes after Barnes stabbed Lee. Lindsey was fired after his arrest.

TYLER — Tyler federal judge Michael Schneider sets a December 9 trial date for a case filed against the federal government by Texas Spine and Joint Hospital and Physician Hospitals of America. Plaintiffs’ attorney Scott Oostdyk says it will be a “provisional,” or bench, trial, with no jury. The plaintiffs are fighting the health care reform law provision limiting expansion rights for physician-owned, and partially physician-owned, hospitals. Along with claiming that it’s arbitrary and vague, they say the provision violates their due process and equal protection under the law. There’s at least one proceeding before the trial. Oostdyk says on October 8, briefs will be filed, and the judge will hear more briefing from the parties about the legal issues.

AUSTIN — As part of an ongoing effort by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office to inform Texans about their rights as voters, the 2010 VOTEXAS Road Tour will be visiting the East Texas State Fair this Thursday. Visitors can learn more about the voter registration and elections processes and will have an opportunity to explore the newly-designed VOTEXAS.org website. Along with representatives from the Texas Secretary of State’s office, local election officials will be on hand to answer questions.

According to state officials, the 22-stop VOTEXAS Road Tour is partnering with local election officials throughout the state to inform Texans about the “when, where and how” of voting to make sure that lack of information is never a reason that one does not register to vote or cast a ballot. The VOTEXAS booth will be at the fair from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. It will be located outdoors, and officials say some tall VOTEXAS.org banners should make it easy to spot.

TYLER — One person is killed, one injured in a northeastern Tyler accident. Tyler Police, Fire and EMS responded to the two vehicle crash in the intersection of Hwy. 271 and NNE Loop 323 around 11:00 a.m. Wednesday. Accident Investigators determined that a 2007 Chevy Trail Blazer driven by an elderly couple from Twelve Mile, Indiana, was southbound on 271, turning left onto Loop 323 on a yellow flashing arrow. A 2008 Ford F-350 pick-up was northbound on 271 on a green light and entered the intersection, striking the Trail Blazer in the passenger side doors.

The occupants of the Trail Blazer were identified as driver Clarence Bechdol, age 79, and his wife Margarett Bechdol, age 80, who was the front seat passenger. Mrs. Bechdol was transported to East Texas Medical Center, where she died from injuries sustained in the crash. Mr. Bechdol was also transported to ETMC for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ford pickup was identified as John Ainsworth of Longview and was not injured. The Bechdols were traveling from Indiana to Tyler to visit a granddaughter who attends a local college. Mr. Bechdol was determined to be at fault in the crash for failure to yield right of way/left turn.

TYLER — Police have made an arrest in a July homicide at a Tyler park. On Wednesday, Tyler Police Investigators arrested 60-year-old Sharieff Hussein Dean pursuant to an arrest warrant for capital murder for retaliation. The warrant was issued Wednesday by State District Judge Jack Skeen, Jr., who set bond at $1,000,000. The arrest is in connection with the murder of Ronnie “Goldie” Kemp that occurred at W.E. Winters Park on July 5. Investigators say they anticipate additional arrests in the case. On the night of July 5, officers were dispatched to park at 910 S. Peach Street in reference to a welfare concern. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located the body of the 48-year-old Kemp, a Tyler resident.

Anyone with information about the suspects involved in this crime is asked 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 arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this, or any, felony case.