Two Charges Dismissed against Upshur County GOP Chairman


GILMER — A judge on Monday morning dismissed two charges against Upshur County’s Republican Party chairman. Judge Diane DeVasto dismissed charges of theft and misappropriation that District Attorney Billy Byrd brought against Republican Chairman Ken Ambrose. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Ambrose must repay $6,000. The charges arose after Ambrose used party Primary funds to pay for an attorney. Byrd and Ambrose’s attorney, Scrappy Holmes, agreed to dismiss the charges if Ambrose repaid the money.

Bond for Henderson Drug Suspect Is $1 Million

HENDERSON — A Henderson man remains jailed on $1 million bond, charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. Rusk County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Viki Penny said Victor Alejandro Luna, 21, was arrested Thursday in the 100 block of Cross Park just outside of Henderson after the Rusk County and Henderson police tactical drug units executed a search warrant of a residence. During a search of the home, 22 grams of cocaine and five grams of methamphetamine were found. A firearm was also found. Officials said the street value of the drugs is about $3,000. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Penny said the case was being investigated by the FBI.

Assistance Possible for Fire-Damaged Wells, Septic Systems


AUSTIN – Wildfire survivors in 22 Texas counties, including several in East Texas, are reminded that disaster assistance may be available to help repair wells or septic systems that were damaged during the blazes. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) say survivors who are unsure whether their insurance covers fire damage to a well or septic system may want to confirm with their insurance company. In many cases, water storage tanks, well pumps and septic systems are not covered by homeowners insurance. In these situations, FEMA may be able to help.

Homeowners in all 22 counties designated for disaster assistance for the wildfires on or after Aug. 30 may be eligible for aid to repair or replace damaged septic systems and private wells that are the sole source of water for the home. This assistance may be available even if the home itself was not affected. “The health and safety of survivors is important to us,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin L. Hannes of FEMA. “Survivors who have damage to their wells or septic systems are encouraged to inform FEMA even if they have already registered.”

Survivors should notify FEMA if their private well or septic system was damaged or contaminated due to the wildfires. Homeowners are encouraged to call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 even if a housing inspector has visited the home. Individuals with speech or hearing impairments can call TTY at 1-800-462-7585. Multilingual assistance is also available by phone. Applicants can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center in their area to speak with a FEMA representative in person.

The counties designated for Individual Assistance (IA) under the Texas wildfire disaster declaration are Anderson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Cass, Colorado, Fayette, Gregg, Grimes, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Houston, Leon, Marion, Montgomery, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Upshur, Walker, Waller and Williamson. The IA program provides grants to eligible survivors to repair or rebuild homes to a safe, sanitary and functional state. Grants are not intended to restore a home to its predisaster condition.

Deputy Fired Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations


MARSHALL — Harrison County officials were notified Thursday by a Texas State Technical College police officer of an incident involving a deputy and his wife that was reported to them by a school counselor. The incident was reported by a juvenile female student to a counselor regarding inappropriate sexual contact. Once the Sheriff’s Office was notified, the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office and Child Protection Services of East Texas were immediately notified and an investigation began into the allegations.

After interviews, warrants were obtained by the District Attorney’s Office for the arrest of Deputy Eddie Nichols, 49, and his wife, Sharon Nichols, 33, on charges of sexual indecency with a child by contact. The charges are a 2nd degree felony, and both were arrested and placed in jail. Eddie Nichols was also a preacher at a local church.

Eddie Nichols was arraigned and a bond of $200,000 was placed on him. He is currently in the Harrison County Jail. Sharon Nichols was arraigned and a bond of $100,000 was placed on her. She has been released from jail. Deputy Nichols has been terminated.

One Injured in House Fire

LONGVIEW — Longview fire officials work a house fire. One person has been taken to the hospital following the blaze on the 1100 block of Bertha Street. Authorities say the injured person had burns on his or her arms and hands. Two others were treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire in unknown at this time.

Wood County Wreck Kills One

QUITMAN – A two vehicle accident in Wood County has left one person dead. The wreck occurred around 9:30 Saturday night on Farm Road 515 at the intersection of County Road 1516 in Wood County. Killed was James Bryant Latham Sr., 56, of Quitman. He was pronounced dead just before 4:00 Sunday morning at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center Hospital. The Department of Public Safety reports Latham was critically injured when his motorcycle hit the rear of a vehicle making a left turn.

Fire at Daingerfield State Park Is Out


DAINGERFIELD – Bulldozers and a helicopter were used to put out a fire at Daingerfield State Park. It was reported around 7:30 Sunday morning in the park in Morris County. Around ten acres were burned by the fire. The park, which had been closed for about a year for construction upgrades, was reopened in late June. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Wounded Warriors Honored At Weekend Concert

BULLARD — “The greatest casualty is being forgotten.” This is the Wounded Warriors motto. KETK reports that Saturday in Bullard, they aimed to not let that happen. This is the fourth year that Kiepersol Estates has held their Wounded Warrior Celebration. The fifty wounded soldiers and their families were treated to a flyover, parachutists, and country music star Gary Morris. “They are pleased that people recognize the sacrifice that they have made. This will not be a pity party tonight; it will be a thank you for your service,” Morris said. The veterans in attendance did appreciate the gesture. Most of the money raised from the event will go to soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, but more importantly, these brave men and women’s service to their country will not be forgotten.

Recovery Specialist to Visit Smith and Upshur Counties


AUSTIN — Wildfire survivors in Smith and Upshur counties can meet with state and federal specialists at recovery centers in their areas. Starting today, specialists from the state of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the types of assistance available to survivors. They also have brochures and other written materials on disaster recovery. The remaining schedule is:
*Smith County, County Office, 11325 Spur 248 in Tyler
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4

*Upshur County, First Baptist Church of Gilmer, 304 Buffalo Street
1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7

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

Firemen Want to Turn Tyler Pink Today


TYLER — To raise awareness of women’s cancer, Tyler Firefighters are urging area public safety officers, businesses, schools and citizens to wear pink today to show that “Tyler cares enough to wear pink”. The entire community is invited to come to the Downtown Square in their pink shirts for the third annual Turn Tyler Pink event from 5:00 to 8:00pm. Turn Tyler Pink shirts can be purchased at:
*Gallery Main Street – 110 W. Erwin
*Holiday Inn South Broadway – 5701 S. Broadway
Proceeds from the sale of Turn Tyler Pink shirts benefit local cancer organizations.

TxDOT Project Updates


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

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on US 271 in various locations between Gentry Parkway and Farm Road 2015 north of Tyler. Once that work is completed, the crew is scheduled to perform the same work 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.

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.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on State Highway 64 between Farm Road 773 and Farm Road 1653, and on State Highway 19 near Farm Road 858. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 315 near U.S. Highway 175 in Poynor, and on U.S. Highway 175 between Farm Road 315 and Farm Road 804 in Baxter. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

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 base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1844 north of Longview between State Highway 300 and U.S. Highway 259. Once that work is complete, the crew is scheduled to move to Farm Road 918 south of Kilgore between U.S. 259 and State Highway 42 in Sexton City. 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.

Gregg County Holocaust Survivor Dies


LONGVIEW – East Texas Holocaust survivor Coenraad “Coen” Rood has died. Rood, who was 94, died Saturday. A memorial service will be at 2:00 Monday afternoon at the chapel of Longview’s Rader Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Memory Park Cemetery. His family is asking that contributions be made in Rood’s memory to the Dallas Holocaust Museum or the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

According to the Rader Funeral Home obituary, Rood was born in 1917 and grew up in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The overarching experience of Rood’s life was the 37 months he spent imprisoned in 11 concentration camps. He vowed with his fellow prisoners that if any of them survived, they would bear witness to the atrocities for the rest of their lives, which he did by speaking to schools, churches, civic organizations and anyone else with an interest. His memoirs have been published in German and Dutch. His story is also available at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, through the University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation Institute, and Yale University Library’s Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies.