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TYLER — Tyler Junior College dual-credit students will benefit from a $25,000 grant the college has received from the AT&T Foundation, TJC officials have announced. “This grant will launch the AT&T Scholars Program,” said Dr. Kim Russell, TJC Foundation director. “The goal of this pilot program is to encourage more economically disadvantaged students to complete college-level courses while they are still in high school. We know that if at-risk high school students successfully complete one or more college-level courses while still in high school, they are more likely to graduate and have a greater chance of attaining a post-secondary degree or certificate in the future.” At a news conference announcing the grant, Russell was joined by TJC President Dr. Mike Metke, State Sen. Kevin Eltife, Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid, and AT&T Foundation Director Candice Gast.

HENDERSON — On Monday at approximately 11:15 p.m., the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit seized approximately 5 lbs. of marijuana during a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 59 in the southern part of the county. KETK reports that during the traffic stop of an SUV, the deputy suspected criminal activity and asked the suspects for consent to search the vehicle. Authorities say both suspects occupying the vehicle agreed to the search. According to authorities, during the search of the back seat area, the deputy discovered five bags which contained marijuana. A sheriff’s department news release says the deputy seized the drugs, then arrested and charged both suspects with possession of marijuana. The suspects, of Cleveland, Mississippi, remain in the Rusk County Jail. They’re named as 26-year-old Jermaine Lamonte Farmer and 21-year-old Steve Terrell. Justice of the Peace Bob Richardson set bond for both men at $15,000.

TYLER — Two men have pleaded guilty in 114th District Court to burning several churches across Smith County. James Bourque, 20, and Daniel McAllister, 22, pleaded guilty yesterday morning in 114th District. Bourque was charged with five counts of arson and three counts of arson attempts, while McAllister was charged with two counts of arson and two arson attempts. The arson charges are first-degree felonies, for which the state recommends a life sentence in prison. The arson attempts are second-degree felonies, and the state recommends a 20-year sentence for those. Both McAllister and Bourque pled guilty to all charges, which means they gave up their right to a jury and witnesses. The court will meet again on January 10th at 8:30am to discuss their sentences.

HENDERSON — A Henderson man is arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Police say 56-year-old William Ricky George was arrested Friday night after a traffic stop for possession of a controlled substance. His was also driving on a suspended license. While police searched his vehicle, they came across several items that are used in making meth as well as thousands of dollars in cash. He was released from jail after posting $9,500 bond.

GILMER — An East Texas man is on trial for intentionally setting a fire. Testimony in the arson trial of Wesley Leon Spangler started Monday in Gilmer. The 39-year-old is charged in connection to a March 19, 2008 blaze. Officials say the building where Spangler was living caught fire. He’s also indicted on a separate charge of insurance fraud stemming from the same incident.

MT PLEASANT – Two persons have been killed when two trucks collide in Titus County. The fiery accident happened shortly after 4:45 Monday morning on State Highway 49 East of Mt Pleasant. Involved in the wreck were a Pilgrim’s Pride truck and a refrigerated truck out of Kansas carrying Red Baron Pizzas. There’s no word yet on the victims’ names.

LONGVIEW — Longview Assistant Fire Chief Kenny Southwell is retiring after twenty years of service with the Longview Fire Department and 25 total years as a firefighter. A retirement reception will be held from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 20, at the Longview Fire Department Training Center, 411 American Legion Blvd.

During his time with the Longview Fire Department, Southwell served many roles including firefighter, paramedic, fire driver, paramedic instructor, interim chief, and more. Officials say most notably, Southwell served as Emergency Management Coordinator and played what’s termed an extremely vital role in the development and success of the City’s Emergency Operation Center, now known as the East Texas Regional Command. Officials say Southwell’s leadership provided advancement in emergency management and impacted the role Longview plays at both the regional and state level. Southwell’s last day on the job is Friday, December 17, with an official retirement date of Friday, January 7, 2011.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded Monday morning to a major traffic accident involving a Tyler ISD school bus. The wreck was reported just before 8:30 on the 6100 block of Wilderness Road. Authorities issued a ticket to the driver of the bus for an improper turn. Officials say the driver of the bus was at fault in the morning wreck. The bus driver reportedly took a corner too sharply, causing the back rear tire to run over the front of a car. No one in the car was injured. Two students were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

LONGVIEW — A space heater is to blame for a fire that killed a Longview man early Monday morning. Longview Fire Marshal Johnny Zachary says Ronald Clark Smith, 62, was sleeping in his fifth-wheel travel trailer when a couch near his space heater caught on fire. Smith lived alone in his trailer on the 200 block of West Lynnwood in Northwest Longview. Neighbors said Smith was very friendly and would look out for their homes when they were gone. No working smoke detectors were found in the trailer.

AUSTIN — Measures filed in the legislature would exclude illegal immigrants from essentially every aspect of life in the state. State Representative Leo Berman’s bills would prevent illegals from filing lawsuits in Texas courts, something he says is necessary to cut down on traffic accident fraud. He says, “An illegal alien will take a Texans into court and sue him for everything he’s worth.” Berman adds, “If he’s in the United States illegally, and in Texas illegally, he shouldn’t have access to to our courts.” Berman, of Tyler, has also proposed denying illegals all state benefits, including welfare, loans and professional licenses and denying the children of illegals Texas birth certificates.

LONGVIEW — Three women have been charged with theft after being accused of shoplifting at the Longview Mall. Arrested late Saturday afternoon were Chelvarlier Quentice Brown, 26, Beshundra Lashay Tucker, 28, and Temika Rochelle Broussard, 29, all of Houston. Longview police say the women acted as a team. While one of the women distracted a store employee, the others took clothing from The Buckle store. They were discovered when items started falling from under one of their dresses.

TYLER — Only minor damage was reported in a fire on the roof of the under construction portion of Birdwell Elementary. The fire was reported around 6:00 Saturday night. The flames were quickly extinguished.

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

TYLER — Construction crews on Monday are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Tyler’s West Loop 323 on either side of the State Highway 64 intersection. Weather permitting, the work should take approximately one week to complete. “We’ve done a lot of paving work at night lately,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “But in the summer, minimum pavement temperatures aren’t an issue like they are in the winter. In an effort to get this work done sooner rather than later, the contractor will need to work during the day when the pavement is warm enough to meet that minimum surface temperature.” Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and 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 be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
*Farm Road 69 north of Farm Road 515 in Coke;
*Farm Road 778 between State Highway 37 in Quitman and U.S. Highway 80;
*Farm Road 2966 north of Quitman; and
*Farm Road 49 east of Farm Road 14.
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.

KILGORE — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make spot pavement and base repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 259 Business in Kilgore. Crews will also be sweeping the bridges and overpasses on State Highway 31 between Longview and the Kilgore Bypass, and the bridges and overpasses on the bypass. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on State Highway 42 between Farm Road 13 in Price and Farm Road 1513 near New London. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on the eastbound Interstate Highway 20 service road between State Highway 64 and Farm Road 859, and ditch maintenance on Interstate 20 near the State Highway 19 interchange.

Contract crews will also be trimming trees on Farm Road 751 and Farm Road 1255. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin several weeks of edge repairs in various locations on U.S. Highway 175 between Jacksonville and Poynor. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

TYLER — The East Texas Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, will present Congressman Louie Gohmert with the Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award at a luncheon in his honor to be held on Monday. The event will take place at Green Acres Baptist Church Crosswalk Conference Center, Tyler, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Speakers will be Paul Powell, Dean Emeritus of the George W. Truett Seminary; Paul Williams, award winning singer/songwriter; and Jed Babbin, author and former editor of Human Events. Emcee will be Senator Kevin Eltife. Scouting officials say the Award is given annually to an individual or couple who have made a significant impact toward enriching the way of life in East Texas. Congressman Gohmert, an Eagle Scout, has served the citizens of the First District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives
since January 2005.

Past recipients of the Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award include Bruce Brookshire, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Jeff Austin, Sr., Eugene Brookshire, C.C. Baker, Jr., Herbert Buie, Congressman Ralph Hall, Douglas V. Smith, B.G. Hartley, Lindsey Bradley, Dr. Peggy and Howard Coghlan, Governor Rick and Anita Perry, Linda Ryan Thomas, Betsy and Elmer Ellis, Carolyn and Michael Northcutt, Sheriff J. B. Smith, Judge Bill Stoudt, Harold Beaird, and Sandi and Dr. Bill Taylor. Sponsorships and individual tickets are available for the luncheon. For more information, call the East Texas Area Council BSA office at 903-597-7201.

MARSHALL — A Marshall lawyer received a five-year probated sentence Friday for failure to register as a sex offender. Michael Bernoudy made an open guilty plea earlier this year in 71st District Court. According to the Longview News-Journal, he was also sentenced to 240 hours of community service, and he will be required to comply with all sex offender requirements for registration and reporting, said Harrison County District Attorney Joe Black. It will now be up to the state of Texas whether Bernoudy keeps his law license, Black said.