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HOUSTON (AP) – A former Texas inmate who once cooked the final meals for condemned prisoners is offering to continue the practice at no cost to the state now that prison officials have announced they’ve stopped the special meals. Brian Price now runs a restaurant on Houston County Lake in East Texas. He says he’s extending his offer to any condemned inmate in the state and taxpayers will be out nothing. Price is author of a book called “Meals to Die For,” a cookbook that references his previous duties. Officials who oversee the country’s busiest death chamber stopped the practice last week after a prominent state senator complained about a hefty request from a man executed for his role in the notorious Jasper dragging death. Inmates now are to get only what other inmates eat that day.

HENDERSON COUNTY – After weeks of rehabilitation at Lindale-area rehabilitator Wild and Free Again, an American bald eagle took back to the skies of East Texas recently. That’s according to Dr. Steve Wilson, a veterinarian who helped nurse the eagle back to health at Tyler’s Glenwood Animal Hospital. Wilson, who also works at Caldwell Zoo, tells us the 5-year-old-plus bird was originally found stuck in a mud pit in Henderson County. It was taken to the bird rehabilitator by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens to regain strength before being released.

Wilson’s granddaughter, 10-year-old Ainsley Cotton, saw the bird when it was originally taken to Glenwood Animal Hospital after being recovered. Ainsley was also invited to watch the release. “I recalled my mom (Stephanie) assisting Beverly (Grage, Wild and Free Again owner) that Sunday afternoon to clean the bird that the game warden had brought to her. They worked to scrub the mud from the feathers of the eagle for quite a long time,” she said.

This is the youngster’s account of the release: “As we drove over to the other side of the lake where she would be released, I was hoping she was ready to fly. It was amazing that today, September 17, 2011, was the 224th anniversary of the signing of The Constitution of America, and here we were about to release the symbol of our freedom. Quietly, we stepped out of the car and waited patiently for Beverly to take the magnificent bird out of the carrier. Beverly carefully covered her with a towel and took hold of the massive talons. The eyes of the eagle were constantly on Beverly as if to say, ‘Thank you for this beautiful land I see before me and the care you have given to me.’

“The sun was shining. The sky was blue with a few clouds floating above. A red tail hawk flew over us sailing in the wind. As Beverly held the bird, its eyes looked at the treetops and the beautiful lake below. Quietly, the eagle turned once more, gazing into Beverly’s eyes. As Beverly released the eagle, it opened her wings and effortlessly flew away. It landed in a nearby oak tree where she was able to see land for miles. Beautiful trees and a lake full of water with tons of fish seemed the perfect place for the bald eagle.”

The eagle was one of two taken to Wild and Free Again this summer. A second bird that was recovered in Nacogdoches County at the facility being nursed for injuries, and was then taken to a rehabilitation facility near San Antonio to be further strengthened for flight.

NORTHEAST TEXAS — Crews are winding down their work on the massive Northeast Texas Fire Complex, made up of numerous wildfires that sparked earlier this month. According to the Texas Forest Service, a Type I Incident Management Team – the Southern Area Blue Team – will assume command of the entire complex on Thursday at 6 a.m. A transition with Pacific Northwest Team 2-Northeast Texas Fire Complex will occur on Wednesday. Authorities say unless significant changes occur, this will be the last information update provided by the Forest Service.

CANTON — To better handle anonymous tip calls, and to relieve the burden on emergency 911 dispatchers, Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers has contracted with a call center that specializes in such tips. Calls to Crime Stoppers at 903-567-STOP (567-7867) are now answered at the Crime Scene Information call center in La Porte, Texas, near Houston. Previously, dispatchers at the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office had to juggle Crime Stoppers calls along with emergency calls and their many other duties. Now, trained operators at the call center receive the crime tip information from anonymous callers and forward it to sheriff’s investigators in Van Zandt County for follow-up.

“Callers probably won’t notice any difference, and they can be assured that this whole process is designed to make sure they remain anonymous at every step of the way,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “Their phone number is never identified, for example, and the trained operators never get any information that could identify the callers.” Flowers said the change was made as part of an overall effort by Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers to improve its call handling processes and increase its outreach to the community, to make sure everyone knows about Crime Stoppers and its benefits.

Crime Stoppers will have booths at the Ben Wheeler Feral Hog Festival in October and the Edgewood Heritage Festival in November, offering information about the group and accepting donations to continue its crime-fighting work. Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers always offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of a criminal offender, someone who has either just committed a crime or is wanted on a warrant. Rewards of up to $1,000 are financed by criminal court fines and donations. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http://www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or on Facebook.

EAST TEXAS — East Texas wildfires destroyed $97 million worth of timber in the past 10 months, according to the Texas Forest Service. Firefighters continue to monitor carryover fires in the area through Sunday.

Since November, East Texas firefighters have responded to 2,151 wildfires that charred 207,763 acres and destroyed 175 million cubic feet of timber, according to Texas Forest Service economists and analysts. The value of all those trees as they stood in the forest, referred to as stumpage value, was $97 million.

The Bear Creek fire in Cass and Marion counties, which is still being monitored, has been tabbed as the largest fire in East Texas history, said Holly Huffman with the Texas Forest Service. The fire destroyed 40,979 acres, 66 homes and 17.3 million cubic feet of timber with a stumpage value of $8.8 million, Huffman said.

The timber in Cass and Marion counties could have produced $159 million worth of forest products, spurring $349 million into the East Texas economy, Huffman said. In 2007, forest industries funneled $427 million into the economy in Cass and Marion counties, employing 1,330 people with a payroll of $72 million, she said.

A fire in Nacogdoches and Cherokee counties burned 6,554 acres of land and 2.9 million cubic feet of timber with a stumpage value of $1.5 million, Huffman said. Another fire in Grimes, Waller and Montgomery counties burned 18,960 acres of land and 20.8 million cubic feet of timber with the stumpage value of $12.8 million, she said.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches police officer is in serious condition at a Tyler hospital after police say he was hit by a drunk driver early Monday morning. Sgt. Keith Hawkins was on his way to a non-emergency call when his car was hit by a truck around 12:20 at the intersection of South and Seale streets.

Tarcisio Chan-Ramirez, 31, is charged with intoxicated assault with a vehicle and remained in the Nacogdoches County Jail on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold. Bond on the third-degree felony charge had not been set. Hawkins was taken to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and then taken by ambulance to a Tyler hospital. He’s said to have serious injuries to his jaw and pelvis.

JACKSONVILLE – Several acres have been burned by a wildfire in the valley east of Love’s Lookout near U.S. Highway 69. A barn was also destroyed by the Sunday fire. No injuries were reported. The fire, which is contained, is said to have started from sparks from a downed power line.

KILGORE – A Kilgore wildfire, which burned around five acres, is now fully contained. The fire was reported near the intersection of Fritz Swanson Road and Rabbit Creek Drive. No word on how the fire started.

HALLSVILLE – Several fire units, along with the Texas Forest Service, have contained a fire near Hallsville. The Harrison County fire was reported around noon Sunday. The fire, said to have started when a tree limb came in contact with a power line, burned about ten acres.

TYLER – The City of Tyler wraps up its Bulky Items Week activities this week. Last week it was for home owners who have their garbage collected on Monday and Thursdays. This week it is for homeowners whose garbage is collected on Tuesday and Fridays.

The City of Tyler Solid Waste Department and Keep Tyler Beautiful sponsors the free bulky item collection for City of Tyler residential customers as a part of Fall Cleanup Weeks. Bulky items that will be picked up at no charge include: furniture, appliances, carpet, fence material, up to four noncommercial vehicle tires, old toys and other large items that would normally require a special fee. No liquid waste, limbs or brush will be picked up. Paint must be dried out with oil dry or kitty litter.

If your garbage is normally collected Tuesday and Friday, you’re asked to place your bulky items on the curb on Monday, September 26 and leave them there until they are picked up. There is no need to call the Solid Waste Office when you set out your bulky garbage. Items may be collected on a different day from your regular collection

Residents are encouraged to contact the Habitat for Humanity ReStore or Goodwill Industries before disposing of unwanted items that are in good condition. Computers and other electronics can be recycled at any Tyler Goodwill Drop Off on weekdays or at the Tyler Recycling Collection Center from Wednesday through Saturday. You can go to
http://www.tylersolidwaste.com and get more information on the bulky item collections.

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

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 US 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.

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.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform shoulder work on Ranch Road 2790 between Farm Road 753 and the end of state maintenance, an don FM 2709 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 316. 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 perform 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.

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.

LONGVIEW — Saturday marked two years since local firefighters battling a Longview house fire discovered the body of Kelvin Muckleroy, who was shot to death. This week, defendant Toronto Eldermek Lockridge again faces a Gregg County jury.

Jury selection began at 9:00 this morning in 124th District Court for Lockridge, who faces a possible life sentence. He is charged with killing Muckleroy on September 24, 2009, then setting fire to Muckleroy’s home in the 1200 block of Chappell Street. Almost seven months ago, Judge Alfonso Charles was forced to declare a mistrial because of a jury deadlock.

Horne remains in the Gregg County Jail awaiting sentencing. Neither his attorney, Kevin Settle, nor prosecutors have said whether they are awaiting a verdict from Lockridge’s trial before sentencing Horne. Neither prosecutor nor attorney Hayward Rigano have announced any new evidence in the Lockridge case. Rigano was appointed Lockridge’s attorney in May because the defendant could no longer afford to pay for counsel. Lockridge remains in the Gregg County Jail on $285,000 bond, charged with murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, after authorities said he threatened a witness in the Muckleroy case. Opening statements are expected to begin at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

TYLER — East Texans supported their local veterans at the Country For Our Country benefit concert. The annual event supports the East Texas non-profit, which gives wounded warriors the tools they need to rebuild their lives. It’s the third annual fundraising event for the local nonprofit, which was held at Villa di Felicita in Tyler, sponsored by Tyler Ford. Performances included Chase and The New South, Derek Sholl and Sara Evans. The event raised an estimated $100,000.

KETK spoke with native East Texan, Andy Burnett, 25, who serves on the Country For Our Country committee. Burnett is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was shot by a stray bullet at the end of his deployment last year. The hit paralyzed him from the chest down. Burnett is thankful for what this organization has done for him since returning home. “It accomplishes a valuable mission,” Burnett said. “And a lot of people see me, and so it kind of puts a face on what they’re trying to do. If that’s my role to play, I’m happy to play it. And I’ve enjoyed it.”

For more on how you can give back to Country For Our Country, visit http://www.countryforourcountry.org/.

TYLER — UT Tyler hosted a fundraiser Saturday to assist those affected by the tornado in Joplin, Missouri. The event had east Texans dancing for three hours straight in the school’s rec center gym. Mission Tyler partnered with area Zumba instructors for a marathon of the Latin-dance inspired fitness class. About 60 east Texans came out to work up a sweat for a good cause. Cori Moore of Mission Tyler tells KETK the event raised about $500 on entry fees alone. Moore says the idea started after visiting Joplin on a recent mission trip. She says Saturday’s proceeds will go specifically to a single mother in Joplin who lost everything she had in the devastating tornado that struck the town in May.

“There are so many natural disasters that are occurring, it’s kind of hard to keep up with it and remember,” Moore said. “And by now, so much news has passed by, people are kind of forgetting about it. But it’s going to take years for them to restore.”

EAST TEXAS — Disaster assistance has been made available in Harrison, Smith and Upshur counties to help survivors of the historic wildfires begin the process of recovery. The three Texas counties were added Friday to the major disaster declaration, said officials with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Counties previously designated for Individual Assistance are Bastrop, Cass, Colorado, Gregg, Grimes, Houston, Leon, Marion, Montgomery, Travis, Walker, Waller and Williamson.

TSA now allows eligible Texas wildfire evacuees from Bastrop, Cass, Colorado, Gregg, Grimes, Houston, Leon, Marion, Montgomery, Travis, Walker, Waller and Williamson counties who cannot return to their homes to stay in hotels or motels until more suitable housing accommodations are available.

Homeowners, renters and businesses in the affected counties are encouraged to register with FEMA. The application process is simple, but crucial, as FEMA may provide assistance that can address specific needs. Disaster assistance may include grants that help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs or other serious disaster-related expenses, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs that are not covered by insurance. Low-interest disaster loans may also be available from the U.S. Small Business Administration that compensate for losses incurred during the disaster that are not fully covered by insurance or other grants.

Survivors can register for assistance online at http://www.disasterassistance.gov, via smart phone at m.fema.gov or by also calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 1-800-621-3362. Operators are available by phone from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.seven days a week.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have arrested four people in connection with an Arkansas homicide. Fantasia Williams, 25, of Longview and Jeremy M. Walker, 24, Courtney McClain, 24,(pictured) and Kimo McClain, 21, all residents of Lonoke, Arkansas, are in Gregg County Sheriff’s custody awaiting extradition. Lonoke Police Chief, Mike Wilson, said Walker was arrested for second degree murder and terrorist acts, while the McClain brothers and Williams, Kimo McClain’s girlfriend, were arrested for hiding Walker in Longview, where Williams lives. A tip led to the arrests on Friday. Walter Jones, 28, was shot in the head and killed in Lonoke September 18th. A witness reported Courtney McClain walking with a gunshot wound to the arm.

HARRISON COUNTY — Hallsville ISD and a Hallsville police officer are investigating a junior high school coach and teacher whom a parent says pushed her son to the ground, busted his lip and choked him. “Safety and security of all Hallsville students, at all times, is a primary concern in this district,” Hallsville ISD spokeswoman Carol Greer said. “We’re aware of this situation and are currently in the process of conducting an internal investigation.”

Though Hallsville ISD officials have said they do not believe there was “malicious intent” involved in the incident and the coach was apologetic, mother Diana Adkins said Friday she won’t stop fighting for justice for what happened to her son. Adkins said Hallsville Junior High School U.S. history teacher and coach Ken Wall pushed her son, 13-year-old Blake Adkins, backward to the ground during a practice Sept. 16 in which the coach and team were “horseplaying.” Wall then injured Blake’s mouth, placed his forearm on Blake’s neck causing him to choke and yelled at him, according to Diana Adkins.