KTBB News, Weather, Talk

JACKSONVILLE — More details in a heist of money bags from the Jacksonville Walmart last week. KETK reports police have identified a fourth man they believe was involved. 23-year-old Roderick Denard Silmon of Jacksonville was identified Thursday morning, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Three other men were identified Wednesday. Police are additionally trying to identify a woman who they believe was also involved.

NACOGDOCHES — The final person Nacogdoches County constables were looking for as part of an 18-person methamphetamine warrant roundup was booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail Thursday evening. According to KETK and the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, Rebekah Lynn Middleton, 29, of Nacogdoches is charged with one count of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. The investigation began more than a year ago in an effort to target the high-volume methamphetamine dealers within the county, Pct. 4 Constable Jason Bridges has said.

MARSHALL – A two vehicle accident in Harrison County has left two persons dead and three injured. The Wednesday night accident occurred on U.S. Highway 80. Killed was Bobby Jenkins Jr., 37, and Gilbert Sena-Quintana, 45, both from Marshall. According to the Department of Public Safety Report, Jenkins, who was west bound when swerved onto the wrong lane and hit Quintana’s pickup. Two children in Jenkins van and a passenger in Quintana’s vehicle were injured.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed Connie Ware of Marshall to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents for a term to expire Jan. 31, 2015. Ware is president and CEO of the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, and vice president of Ware Machine and Supply Inc. She is a member of the Sabine River Authority Board of Directors, Texas Association of Business, Marshall Citizens Advisory Council, Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras, and the Marshall Symphony League. She is also past chair of the Texas State Technical College Advisory Board and Texas Commission on the Arts. Ware received a bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College.

TYLER — East Texas Fair staffers are pleased with response to this year’s event, which wrapped up last weekend. “This is the first time in my career I have seen attendance at a Fair finish almost identical to the previous year,” said John Sykes, President of The Park of East Texas, Inc. “This year’s attendance is within a few people of being the same number as 2010. Total attendance in 2011 is 242,163.”

Per capita spending increased. North American Midway Entertainment set an all time record for ride revenue. Most established food vendors reported record income. “While attendance remained flat, it is obvious that those who came spent more money once inside,” stated Sykes. “We again saw more families and children at the Fair.” The East Texas State Fair also saw increases in livestock show exhibits and the addition of more retail vendors adding to the commercial exhibitor line-up. Officials say the trend of adding retail vendors to The Marketplace inside Harvey Convention Center will continue, giving fairgoers the opportunity to purchase mattresses, jewelry and numerous other items while increasing sales tax revenues for the area.

It is estimated the East Texas State Fair generates over $20 million in economic impact for the region. The Fair’s gross income is over $2 million during the 11-day event. “It is stirring to see an increase in spending during a time when much of the country is still suffering through a troubled economy,” said Sykes. “We will now take the successes of this year’s event and improve on them as we plan for the 2012 East Texas State Fair.” The 97th East Texas State Fair is scheduled for September 20-30, 2012, at the East Texas State Fairgrounds.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) — A Comanche County judge has denied a motion to disqualify the judge who presided over the trial of a former Oklahoma prison warden’s wife who was convicted of helping an inmate escape. District Judge C. Allen McCall ruled Thursday that removing Greer County District Judge Richard Darby from Bobbi Parker’s case would fall outside the court’s authority. McCall delayed Parker’s formal sentencing until an appeals court considers the issue.

A jury found Parker guilty Sept. 21 of helping convicted killer Randolph Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory. The couple were later found in Texas on a chicken farm in Shelby County.

Defense attorney Garvin Isaacs argued that Darby should’ve recused himself because his brother, Ken, works for the prosecutor. Assistant District Attorney David Thomas said Ken Darby wasn’t involved in the case, and added the defense knew about him before the trial started.

QUITMAN — Wood County officials say the woman accused of throwing a young boy down on a table while working at a Mineola daycare has been arraigned in a Quitman courtroom. According to KETK, Jennifer Lynn Stone’s next hearing date is set for November 10th. She was arraigned on charges of injury to a child, which is a third degree felony. Stone earlier turned herself in and was released on $10,000 bond. Stone is accused of mistreating a 5-year-old boy who was under her care earlier this year.

TYLER — Authorities say Adrian Blankenship Jr., one of the men charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Nicole Cartwright of Longview, entered a plea deal Thursday in a Smith County courtroom. According to KETK, this brings his charge down from first degree murder to manslaughter, also reducing his sentence to 20 years in prison. Cartwright was found shot to death outside of a Tyler car wash on Christmas Eve in 2010, after being caught in the crossfire of a gun allegedly shot by another man, Gregory Polley. Polley pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Blankenship was said to be in the same car as Polley at the time of the shooting.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating the death of a 10-year-old J.L. Everhart student who died Wednesday evening in an area hospital. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Jamaal Jones, of Longview was pronounced dead at about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday at Good Shepherd Medical Center after being transported from his grandmother’s home in the 200 block of Harvard Ave., Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson said.

Longview police and emergency medical services were called to the residence at about 6:50 p.m. in connection with a boy who had been injured in the front yard. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said officers were called to investigate, but Jameson said “the child’s death appears to be an accident at this time. The injury appears to be a spinal cord injury from an accident.” Jameson said the fourth grader’s body was sent for autopsy in Fort Worth for an official ruling on what caused his death.

Longview ISD officials said counselors were being made available at J.L. Everhart for grieving students. According to a school district statement, “All of us at Longview ISD are touched by the tragic loss of Jamaal Jones, a 4th grade student at J.L. Everhart, and we pray that his family can find peace. Our thoughts and prayers are also with Jamaal’s extended family – the students and staff at J.L. Everhart.”

WINONA — A one-acre fire has been contained after breaking out Thursday morning on FM 1252 in the Winona area. The blaze had threatened one home. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said the pasture fire was caused by a squirrel on an electric line.

WHITE OAK — Gregg County Crime Stoppers and the White Oak Police Department are seeking information on the identity of the suspect seen in this picture, who was responsible for the attempted break-in of the ATM at Citizens Bank, located on S. White Oak Rd. The suspect is a white male, who can be seen on security video walking up to the ATM with a hammer and lug wrench. The suspect is able to get the lower door of the ATM open, but was unable to gain access to the cash vault. The suspect is seen in the video walking north on S. White Oak Rd.

Anyone with information is requested to contact Lt. Ferris Ellis, White Oak PD, at 903-759-0106 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com or 903-236-STOP (7867).

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man who burned down his mother’s home with a methamphetamine lab last year became emotional in the courtroom Wednesday as he was sentenced to additional prison time. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. James Durham Jr. got 20 years in prison on an evading arrest charge last week. Now he’s received another 25 years in prison on each of three charges, including arson, possession of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Because he is to serve those charges concurrently, the 38-year-old man technically only received another five years in prison.

After being sentenced by state District Judge Gerald Goodwin, he told the court there was something he would like to say about the day he was shot earlier this year by two men near the charred remains of his mother’s home. “I might be what the papers say, but that day I was mowing my yard, two men drove up and shot me with a shotgun and a .22 and beat me with a two-by-four, and I didn’t deserve it. It was premeditated. I hope and pray justice is served on them, same as it was on me,” Durham said. “They shot me while I was on the ground, in the buttocks. I have to wear a (colostomy) bag now. I’ll have to wear that for the rest of my life for something that I don’t even know why they shot me, and they’re going to get away with it. They weren’t even charged. They drove up in my yard and shot me dead.”

After speaking with Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington about getting help for his drug problem, Durham was taken back to the Angelina County Jail, where he will be housed until being transported to prison.

MARSHALL — Pilgrim’s Pride is prepared to appeal a recent decision in Marshall federal court in which a judge ruled the company must pay $26 million. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the company was found guilty of manipulating the price of chicken in 2009. The most damaging evidence against the company came from an e-mail that stated the sale of one processing plant would “foil their plans” to restrict chicken and increase prices. Individual growers could get up to $700,000 from the ruling.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches woman and her ten children are trying to get things back on track after being forced out of their residence. Fire devoured the family’s mobile home Tuesday afternoon on George Street. According to KETK, homeowner Cassandra Washington says she lost three dogs in the blaze. The fire marshal believes the fire was accidental.

MINEOLA – Authorities believe they have found the vehicle that fatally struck a Mineola teen, but no arrest has been made. The pedestrian victim in the hit and run crash that occurred Tuesday night on U.S. Highway 69 in Wood County is identified as Jacob Mikal Burrell, 15. According to KETK, Burrell was pronounced dead around 10:30 Wednesday morning at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center.

Following the accident, which happened around 8:15 Tuesday night, the Department of Public Safety put out information about the vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle was believed to be a 2008 or newer white Chevrolet Avalanche with black plastic trim and 20 inch stock rims. The vehicle was last seen on U.S. Highway 69 North in Mineola. The vehicle is likely to have damage to its front end and/or damage to its right front quarter panel. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office at 903-763-2201 and reference case number 11-07582.