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AUSTIN (AP) – Workers in 23 Texas counties who lost their jobs due to wildfires have the opportunity to apply for job assistance. The Texas Workforce Commission on Monday announced an expanded presidential disaster declaration includes unemployment help for Navarro County. Anderson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Cass, Colorado, Fayette, Henderson, Hill, Gregg, Grimes, Harrison, Houston, Leon, Marion, Montgomery, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Upshur, Walker, Waller and Williamson counties previously were approved for unemployment assistance. The deadline to seek employment help in Navarro County is Nov. 9. Various October deadlines apply for the other 22 counties. The Texas Forest Service says more than 2,800 homes have been destroyed since the wildfire season began last November.

TYLER – One person is in custody in connection with the robbery of a woman in the parking lot of the Super One foods store at 1105 East Gentry. It happened shortly after 4:15 Monday afternoon. A woman tells officers she had finished shopping and was putting her small children in their car seats in the back seat of her car a man got in the back seat and grabbed her by the throat. She fought of the man, identified as Donny Quang Ngo, 35, of Tyler, and jumped out of the car.

She says Ngo got out of the car and started assaulting her. He then got into the front seat of the car, which she thought he was going to steal the vehicle with her children inside. Instead, he grabbed her purse, which had been sitting on the front seat and jumped from the car.

Her screams had alerted store employees and other customers who chased Ngo to the highway in front of the store where they tacked him and held him till officers arrived. The victim did not require medical attention. Ngo was transported to East Texas Medical Center where he was treated and released for minor injuries. Ngo was then booked into the Smith County jail for robbery and released.

JACKSONVILLE – Cherokee County authorities are looking for two men who robbed a store west of Jacksonville. The robbery occurred Sunday night around 7:15 at the Corner Store at the intersection of Farm Road 747 and County Road 3113. After taking nearly $2,000 from the store the men, one armed with a handgun and the other armed with a small calibre rifle, fled the store.

Employees say the men were covered in black, including gloves and ski masks. One was a white male in his early 20s, between 5’8” and 5’10” and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. The second suspect was a black male in his early 20s, between 5’8” and 5’10” and weighing between 130 and 150 pounds.

SULPHUR SPRINGS – A Sulphur Springs man has been identified as the victim of a weekend traffic crash. Tony G. Swindell, 28, was dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred shortly before 3:00 Sunday morning. Police reports say Swindell was west bound on East Industrial Drive when his car left the road and hit two cars in a parking lot. Swindell was thrown from the vehicle.

NACOGDOCHES – Two Louisiana men have been arrested by authorities at the Nacogdoches bus station and charged with possession of a controlled substance. Investigators say the men were acting nervously. A search turned up three pounds of cocaine. Taken into custody were Rodrick Roy Gibson and Ronald Dewayne Green, both 44, and both from Monroe, Louisiana.

MARSHALL — After 12 years on the bench, U.S. District Judge T. John Ward has retired to take advantage of a golden opportunity — practicing law with his son. “I thought it was a (rare) opportunity for people to get,” the 68-year-old said of practicing law with son Johnny Ward at Ward & Smith law firm in Longview. The federal courthouse is losing another judge, as U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles “Chad” Everingham, 43, resigned to become a partner in Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and open the firm’s new Longview office. The law firm will become the largest to set up a satellite office in the Eastern District of Texas.

Ward — often referred to as the “king of the rocket docket” for speeding patent cases through the system — and Everingham — the first U.S. magistrate judge stationed in the Marshall federal courthouse — both vacated their posts Sept. 30.

LONGVIEW — A Henderson man being booked into Gregg County Jail on traffic warrants had a felony charge tacked to his record after officials said he attempted to get a released inmate to conceal marijuana for him. Donte Lamar Giddings, 30, remained jailed Monday on $5,000 bond, charged with possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility and with eight outstanding warrants for traffic violations.

According to arrest reports, an inmate who was being released from jail told authorities that Giddings attempted to “persuade him to reach in his shoe and take out a small bag of weed so that he could throw it away.” The exiting inmate declined to assist. Giddings was later seen throwing the marijuana into the trash can in the processing area at the jail. Officials said the marijuana was found in the trash can.

Troopers said Giddings was originally arrested after a traffic stop for having a defective brake light, which revealed his outstanding warrants.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man remained jailed Monday on bonds totaling $250,000 after police found cocaine and hundreds of prescription pills. Longview police arrested Ocie Demitrius Collier, 29, around 11:45 Saturday in the 1000 block of West Marshall Avenue after a traffic stop. Authorities say Collier was arrested for not having a drivers license. During a search of his vehicle, officers found 205 hydrocodone pills, 76 Xanax pills and two clear baggies containing cocaine. Police said digital scales were also found in the vehicle. Collier was charged with five counts of manual delivery of a controlled substance.

TYLER (AP) — Police say an apparent argument over a blanket has led to an East Texas man accused of killing his cousin. Tyler police say 29-year-old Danez Dewayne Black of Tyler has been charged with murder. Smith County Jail records did not list an attorney for Black, who was held Monday on $500,000 bond. Officer Don Martin told The Associated Press that the shooting happened early Saturday at the home of Black’s mother. Martin says the woman went into a room where 21-year-old Marquis Dwain Black was staying, asked for her blanket and the two began to argue. Martin says Danez Black, who also was at the home, heard the dispute and allegedly shot his cousin.

JACKSONVILLE — Funeral Services for Jo Meredith will be this morning at 10:00 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Longview. Rader Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Meredith was a Health Science teacher at Jacksonville High School for the past 3 years. She helped numerous students graduate under the Certified Nurses Aid program, helping them to have good jobs in the nursing field as soon as they graduate. On Friday morning, she was killed in an accident with a tanker truck while driving her motorcycle to work from Longview where she lives. Officials say she was wearing her helmet. Meredith was an advocate for breast cancer awareness on campus. At the Tomato Bowl Friday night, the town was dressed in pink for breast cancer awareness…and also to remember their teacher.

JACKSONVILLE — The Cherokee County Sheriff Department SWAT team seized 1.5 pounds of marijuana and 9 grams of crack cocaine from a Cuney residence in the 200 block of County Road 3509 at 6:30 a.m. on Friday. “Most of the drugs appeared to be packaged and ready to sell,” Sheriff James Campbell said. Three suspects were arrested at the scene, two of which Campbell said they believe to be the homeowners. Ricky Lynn Allen, 44, was charged with five felonies: two counts of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession of marijuana and two counts of endangering a child. Tashawn Monquie Johnson, 30, (pictured) was charged with four felonies: one count of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession of marijuana and two counts of endangering a child. Allen’s bond was set at $240,000 and Johnson’s was set at $230,000. A 20-year-old male was arrested for possession of marijuana and his bond was set at $2,000.

Child Protective Services was called to the scene to take custody of an infant child and a 12-year-old juvenile male. Campbell said the investigation had been going on for several weeks and ended with the search warrant being executed.

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Commissioners Court will consider today approving a grant to help with prosecution expenses related to a capital murder case. The grant could fund more than $200,000 in expenses the county occurred in the trial of Cortne Mareese Robinson. Robinson, 19, of Marshall was one of three people charged with the fatal shooting of Frank Zabokrtsky, 82, during a September 2009 home invasion. Jurors sentenced Robinson to death for Zabokrtsky’s murder.

In September, the county received $98,000 from the Texas Task Force of Indigent Services to help offset the almost half-million dollar deficit accumulated from trial expenses. The award only funded the defense expenses used to provide access to counsel for the poor. The grant that will be considered Tuesday is from the Office of Governor Criminal Justice Division in the amount of $203,500. The commissioner’s court approved a resolution in August to submit an application for the grant to reimburse prosecution expenses. Harrison County First Assistant Auditor Jana Smallwood said the county had budgeted $250,000 for the trial, which ended up costing almost double that.

EAST TEXAS — Federal officials are urging residents who have been affected by wildfires to register for assistance. “It doesn’t matter how little damage they had. If they had damage to their primary residence, they need to register,” FEMA spokeswoman Margaret Broadbent said. “We may can help them.”

Wildfire Recovery Assistance centers have been making their way to Northeast Texas towns hit by wildfires, and centers will remain open this week in Longview and Gilmer for people who have questions about assistance, Broadbent said. A recovery center will be open Wednesday and Thursday at the Longview Exhibit Building, 1123 Jaycee Drive. Officials will be available to answer application questions or for those who would like to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Upshur County recovery center will reopen today at the First Baptist Church of Gilmer, 304 Buffalo Street, from 9:00am to 6:00pm. A recovery center in Cass County also will be open today at the law enforcement training center, 1031 CR 1913. “If you were affected by the fires, you can go to any recovery center that is convenient for you,” Broadbent said. Broadbent encourages residents to seek services.

FEMA has approved almost $900,000 to date to help wildfire survivors who have applied for federal and state assistance.

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

HENDERSON COUNTY– Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on State Highway 31 in Chandler on either side of the Farm Road 315 intersection. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base repairs on U.S. Highway 175 between Farm Road 804 in Baxter and Loop 60 in LaRue. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 839 between U.S. Highway 79 and Farm Road 1798. 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.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 320 between West Loop 256 in Palestine and Farm Road 645. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge repairs on Farm Road 2012 in various locations between State Highway 31 and Farm Road 850 near New London in Rusk County. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2088 between Farm Road 14 in Oak Grove and the Upshur County Line. Crews will also be at work on U.S. Highway 80 near Farm Road 1799 west of Mineola, and east of Mineola between Farm Road 2422 and Farm Road 3056. 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.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 13 between Troup and Price, and on Farm Road 1911 south of Alto. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

GILMER – The State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Upshur County continues in its temporary location at the Gilmer Fire Station Monday after moving there Saturday. The recovery center will return to First Baptist Church of Gilmer on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The schedule:

Gilmer Fire Station
120 Henderson St.
Gilmer, TX 75644
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10

First Baptist Church of Gilmer
304 Buffalo Street
Gilmer, TX 75644
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12

Upshur County wildfire survivors with questions about the recovery process or needing help registering with FEMA are urged to stop by the recovery center. Visiting with a recovery specialist is not a requirement for survivors who want disaster assistance, but officials say the centers are an excellent way for people to get answers to their questions about disaster aid and help applying for it.

Texas homeowners, renters, and business owners can register online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov, or by telephone via FEMA’s toll-free numbers: 1-800-621-3362 or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Assistants are available by phone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.