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GREGG COUNTY — Two people were arrested early Tuesday morning in connection with a chemical bomb that detonated in the backyard of a Longview residence. Celeste Marie Tebow, 20, Longview and Benjamin Enloe Hilton, 30, Gladewater (pictured) were arrested at about 2:00 in the 100 block of East Hawkins Parkway.

Police were dispatched to the 1900 block of Wimberly Street at about 11:45 Monday night after the victim reported that a chemical bomb went off in the backyard of her home. Police found the remnants of two homemade bombs in the backyard. The devices “appeared to be constructed of a plastic bottle, tin foil and an unknown liquid.” The victim told police she suspected that it was Hilton who detonated the bomb because of an “ongoing feud.” Police made contact with Tebow and Hilton at Summer Green Apartments in the 100 block of East Hawkins Parkway.

During a search of Tebow’s vehicle, police found tin foil, toilet bowl cleaner and latex gloves. Police say Tebow admitted that the items were used to construct a bomb. Tebow told police that Hilton drove her to the victim’s home and helped plant the device with another person in the yard. Hilton admitted to police that he assisted in constructing and planting the bomb, according to arrest reports.

Tebow remained jailed on $7,500 bond, charged with possessing the components of explosives. Hilton remained jailed on $7,500 bond, charged with having a prohibited weapon.

PITTSBURG — It was no Halloween prank when two men wearing masks approached a man near Pittsburg after bumping his vehicle early Monday morning. The man was struck several times in the head, and his money was taken. It happened around 2:00 on U.S. Highway 271. Authorities say a black SUV, possibly a Chevy Tahoe, got behind him and followed him. When the motorist got to the stop sign on County Road 4220, at the intersection of Farm Road 557, the vehicle bumped the rear of his vehicle.

He attempted to get out when two subjects attacked him, striking him in the head with possibly a baseball bat and robbed him. The men were wearing Halloween masks. One was about 6 feet tall; the other was approximately 5 feet, 4 inches. An undetermined amount of cash was taken. The victim was taken to East Texas Medical Center Pittsburg where he received several stitches in the back of his head.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, 903-855-STOP, or the Camp County Sheriff’s Office, 903-856-6651.

TATUM — A Tatum man was arrested on drug charges Monday night after officials say they found methamphetamine and prescription pain pills. According to Rusk County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Viki Penny, Mark Russell Stewart, 37, was arrested at about 9:30 Monday night near the intersection of County Road 2132 and Farm Road 1716 near Tatum. Penny said the sheriff’s deputy noticed a pickup truck in the parking lot of an oil lease on CR 2132, which he thought was suspicious for the area. After stopping the vehicle, the deputy smelled an alcoholic beverage on Stewart’s breath and requested that he exit the vehicle because there was a rifle in the vehicle with him. During a search of Stewart, deputies found 10 pain pills and 3.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine. A small amount of marijuana was found as well. Stewart remained jailed Tuesday on bonds totaling $12,500, charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin woman was arrested Saturday evening on a driving while intoxicated charge after crashing her car into the back of a hayride full of children in the Central community.

Rita Maxie, 47, was southbound on Farm Road 2251 around 8:00pm when she rear-ended the hayride stopped at a stop sign at Farm Road 2021, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety report. The hayride, carrying 22 adults and kids, was part of a baseball team party. The kids on the hayride ranged in age from 2 to 14, according to the DPS report.

Maxie was taken to the Angelina County Jail, where she posted a $1,500 bond hours later. Her Ford Mustang was towed from the scene.

KILGORE – The Department of Public Safety has released the names of the victims of a Friday afternoon accident in Gregg County. The accident happened just before 5:45 Friday afternoon on Goforth Road, just east of Farm Road 3053.

The DPS reports a pickup driven by Latrisha Harrod, 30, of Kilgore was east bound when it left the road and overturned. Harrod and a passenger, Jaina Kitchens, 13, of Kilgore, were killed in the crash. Three children were injured in the crash. Two were taken to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport where one was listed in serious condition and the other in good condition. The third youngster injured in the wreck is in good condition at Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center. The DPS report said the two youngsters listed in good condition were the only ones wearing their seat belt.

RUSK — With recent rains bringing some extra moisture to the area, many residents want to see burn bans lifted. And Tuesday, the Cherokee County Commissioners Court will decide whether to cancel its burn ban. County Judge Chris Davis tells KETK if the ban is lifted, good sense will be the most important factor. According to Davis, “You can’t fix stupid,” and if people don’t use their heads, there’ll be fires whether there’s a burn ban or not.

TYLER – Funeral services are scheduled Wednesday for the pastor of Tyler’s Lanes Chapel United Methodist Church, Lou Gary Thomas. Thomas, who was 64, passed away Friday at Tyler’s Mother Francis Hospital. A memorial service for Thomas will be held on Wednesday, November 2, at 3:00pm at the church. A private burial will follow.

According to the obituary from the Stewart Family Funeral Home, Thomas taught and coached in many different elementary, Jr. High and Sr. High Schools throughout East Texas. He was dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ in ministry for over 40 years. On 3 different occasions his church received the Kenneth Copeland Award for Evangelism which is given for church growth through new believers. Thomas served in many churches including, Spurger UMC, Fairview UMC of Nacogdoches, Bonita UMC of Central Heights, Laird Hill UMC of Kilgore, First United Methodist Church of Harlingen, St. Marks UMC of Center, St. Andres UMC of Carthage, First Untied Methodist Church of Mt. Enterprise, Concord United Methodist Church, Bethlehem UMC of Hudson and the final 22 years at Lanes Chapel UMC of Tyler.

FRANKSTON — A man is behind bars after a string of vandalism Saturday in Frankston. According to Frankston city officials, Joshua Bradley Mundell was arrested for his alleged connection with the destruction of property over the weekend. According to KETK, four places were hit including Van’s, Dixie House BBQ, a propane gas facility, and a private residence. Among the property destroyed was a truck at Van’s in Frankston, several buildings, and also a church in Henderson County. Mundell was caught by a man at the private residence when he was found allegedly carrying items out of the home. The homeowner held Mundell at gunpoint until police arrived. Mundell was arrested for burglary of a building and is awaiting further charges. His bail is set at $25,000.

JACKSONVILLE — Three men have been arrested in connection with the Jacksonville Wal-Mart robbery on October 2. Police have taken into custody Maurice DeShun Jones, 28, Willie Duane Rogers, 23, and Jonathan Rashard Brown, 19. All three are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. Police tell KETK a Crime Stoppers tip lead to the arrest of Jones and Rogers, while Brown turned himself in to authorities. The three are accused of stealing nearly $10,000 from the store in two money bags. One suspect is still at large.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement Monday regarding the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s decision to grant the Palestinian bid for full membership:

“Today’s vote made by UNESCO to grant the Palestinian bid for full membership to the United Nations is not only outrageous, it’s utterly offensive. This vote will bolster the fraudulent Palestinian bid for recognition as a state by the United Nations without requiring it to recognize a nation in being and disclaim the goal of Israel’s destruction. It offers further evidence of the United Nations’ embrace of a radical political agenda.

“I applaud the U.S. State Department for its necessary action made today – to halt a $60 million transfer due in November to the UN cultural agency. The United States should not fund a United Nations bent on bestowing statehood to a Palestinian government run by Hamas, an Islamist terror group devoted to annihilating our strong ally, Israel. Desiring peace in the Middle East is noble, but granting statehood to Hamas, the Palestinian arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, is foolhardy and does not advance the cause of peace in the region.”

AUSTIN — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) congratulated Representative David Simpson of Longview for earning the Rookie of the Year in their ratings of the 82nd Texas Legislature with a session score of 91. “YCT is especially pleased to announce that David Simpson earned the highest score of all the freshmen on our ratings for this session,” said Jeff Morris, YCT Vice Chairman.

“I am grateful to receive the Rookie of the Year award from Young Conservatives of Texas. For YCT, it isn’t enough to call yourself ‘conservative’ — you have to back up your words with actions. The voters of the district that I serve sent me to Austin to do what’s right and not to ‘just play along,’” Representative Simpson said. “By God’s grace I did my best to honor their trust.” On top of earning YCT’s Rookie of the Year for the Texas House, Simpson also ranked among the most conservative members of the legislature on the organization’s Honor Roll for the session.

ALTO — An Alto man has been arrested in connection with a series of burglaries. That’s according to KETK. At around 3:15 p.m. Friday, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a house on the 300 block of West San Antonio Street in Alto in reference to several burglaries in the area. During the search of the singlewide mobile home, officers found a small caliber pistol believed to have been taken during the recent burglary of the Pearman Dodge Motor Company located on U.S. Highway 69 in Alto. Investigators also arrested the suspected burglar, 20-year old Craig Anthony Wilkins. Wilkins had two prior arrest warrants for burglary, which were issued after several weeks of investigations and surveillance.

Wilkins was charged with the following:
1) Burglary of a Building (Alto High School); Bond: $20,000
2) Burglary of a Building (Pearman Motor Company); Bond: $20,000
3) Burglary of a Habitation (July 20th residential burglary); Bond: $30,000

TYLER — Officials with Judge Floyd Getz’s office have told KETK, Mark Nathaniel Anderson’s Jury trial will begin November 14th with jury selection. The case has been moved to Judge Jack Skeen’s courtroom in the 241st District Court. This comes after the October 24th trial date was continued to October 31st. Anderson has been indicted in the case of his sister’s murder. Amanda Anderson, 19, was found shot to death in their Chapel Hill home back in September of last year. A short time later, then 15 year old Nate Anderson was taken into custody in connection with the murder. Anderson’s bond was raised to $1.5 million dollars.

WOOD COUNTY — A suspected robber has been jailed. Wood County Deputy, J.W. Williams, arrested Travis Herrera Holder, 21, for a Burglary of a Habitation Saturday. It happened after several guns that had been recovered and link back to Holder from more than one burglary in Wood County. The owners of the guns were able to get their property back. Holder is being held on a $10,000 bond in the Wood County Jail.

GREGG COUNTY — A Gladewater man remained jailed at last report after police said he shot out the window of a vehicle and attempted to rob the driver. Sylvester Kelly, 37, was charged with aggravated robbery, and bond was set at $20,000. He also had an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation at the time of his arrest. Police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said Kelly shot a bullet through the driver’s side window in an effort to rob the driver. The bullet exited through the front windshield. Brian said Kelly stole the victim’s wallet and driver’s license, but no one was injured in the robbery. Police said the robbery happened about 3:15 a.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of Estes Parkway.