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LONGVIEW –A three vehicle accident in Longview has killed an infant. It happen around 3:00 Sunday morning in the 3500 block of West Loop 281 when a driver hit two unoccupied vehicles in a parking lot. The infant was dead at the scene. Occupants of the car are hospitalized in critical condition. At last report the names had not been released.

TYLER – One person is in custody following a fatal Tyler accident that killed two persons and injured one. It happened just before 2:00 Sunday morning in the 5100 block of the Troup Highway. Dead at the scene was Jacob Clay, 22, of Tyler. Gaylon Cox, 15, died Sunday afternoon at a Tyler hospital. The injured is said to be hospitalized with life threatening injuries.

Taken into custody at the scene was Edward Marin, 51, of Tyler. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on one count of intoxicated manslaughter and two counts of intoxicated assault. Bond was set at $305,000. Additional charges are likely to be filed today.

According to Police Sgt. Matthew Smyser, the accident is still under investigation and anyone with information regarding it is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

DALLAS – The chairman of UT Health Science Center at Tyler’s Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Jonathan E. MacClements, has been awarded the Exemplary Teaching Award from the Texas Academy of Family Physicians during TAFP’s 2011 Annual Session and Scientific Assembly in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday. This award honors individuals with outstanding teaching skills, and those who have developed and implemented innovative teaching models.

Dr. MacClements teaches family medicine residents as a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. He is also chairman of the academic medical center’s Department of Family Medicine, director of medical education, and director of the UTHSCT Family Medicine Residency Program.

In addition to his certification in family medicine, he is certified in Adolescent Medicine and Tropical Medicine, and serves as a Senior Federal Aviation Medical Examiner, the Smith County Health Authority, and a lieutenant colonel in the Texas State Guard.

Known for his motto, “Don’t tell me how to make it easier, tell me how to make it better,” Dr. MacClements is regarded by colleagues, residents, and patients as a compassionate teacher, caring physician, tireless community servant, and avid scholar.

NACOGDOCHES – A man has been killed in Nacogdoches after being hit by a train. It happened around 2:15 Saturday morning on Farm Road 2863 and County Road 521. He has been identified as Valentin Rodriguez Reyes. Investigators say he was laying on the tracks when hit by the Union Pacific freight train.

TYLER – The Double D Restaurant proposed for Tyler is on hold pending the outcome of a hearing on a restraining order issued on the project on Friday. Workmen have been remodeling the old El Chico Restaurant for the Double D. What has caused some citizen protests is the location of the building; across the loop from Robert E Lee High School and in the same parking lot with Toys R Us. And it features waitresses in skimpy costumes. Toys R Us sought and got the temporary restraining order against the restaurant in the 114th District Court of Judge Christi Kennedy. The restaurant’s owners are ordered to stop renovation work, remove signs and not employ people wearing what the judge called “scanty attire.” A hearing on the restraining order has been scheduled for August 11th.

CENTERVILLE – A Tyler teen was one of two persons killed in a Leon County traffic accident. It happened around 5:15 Thursday morning on State Highway 7 about two miles east of Centerville. Dead at the scene was Courtnee Nicole Odom, 19, of Tyler, and Christopher Michael Hicks, 19, Frankston. The Department of Public Safety reports Hicks was west bound when he entered a curve and veered into the east bound lane of traffic. His SUV hit an 18-wheeler and then flipped over several times. The Waco truck driver was injured.

MARSHALL – A Marshall coach, who has been under suspension with pay, has had his job terminated. The action came Thursday after the Marshall school board met in executive session to act on the superintendent’s recommendation to fire Christian Block. He was an assistant football and power lifting coach at Marshall High School. He was suspended July 19th pending an investigation. District officials will not discuss the nature of the investigation. He becomes the second member of the coaching staff to be fired. Recently, Athletic Director Thed Harris also had his contract terminated following an investigation.

TYLER – A suspect is in custody in connection with the death of a one year old boy. Simon Lopez, 26, has been taken into custody in Querétaro, a state in North-Central Mexico, by the Mexican Federal Police Thursday. Lopez, who was A U.S. Marshals “15 Most Wanted” fugitive,
was expelled from the country, and U.S. Marshals transported him from Mexico to Houston Friday. There he will be arraigned by a District Judge on the Capital Murder charge in the death of Jeremy Silva, 1, of Tyler. Authorities have been searching for Lopez since late last November when a warrant was issued for his arrest. Lopez fled after he dropped the 18-month-old boy off at the home of one of the boy’s aunts, according to Tyler police officials. The boy was not breathing at the time.

Lopez was babysitting his girlfriend’s two children while she worked in Lindale that day, and had reportedly left the children home alone while he took his girlfriend, Emma Torres, to work. The young boy was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital by his aunt. An autopsy report showed that his death was caused from a torn atrium in his heart, a result of blunt force trauma to his chest, officials have said. The report also indicated that Jeremy suffered prior abuse, including several broken ribs and bruising to his body, according to Tyler police.

“We said from day one that we would not stop until Simon Lopez was caught and that there would be justice for Jeremy Silva,” said Dan Phillips, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas. “All of the officers on this case have put in long hours and have been incredibly vigilant in ensuring that we did everything we could to get him in custody. Their efforts are a testimony to the fact that we will not rest until justice is served.”

TYLER — Authorities say Curtis Gene Cotton, 31, has been arrested in a Tyler undercover prescription drug sting. The Drug Enforcement Administration in Tyler received information that Cotton was allegedly selling prescription medications illegally. The DEA tells KETK they then contacted Cotton in an undercover capacity to purchase 500 Xanax tablets for $1,000. Undercover officials met with Cotton in the parking lot of The Abby Apartments in Tyler and say he agreed to sell them the Xanax.

After receiving the money, Cotton reportedly began saying he was being “ripped” of the funds, then transferred the money to other people. Authorities say DEA then arrested Cotton in the apartment parking lot and followed the others to a nearby trailer park to continue their investigation. Cotton was allegedly found to be in possession of a small amount of cocaine, prescription medication and a .45 caliber pistol. He was transported to the Smith County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.

TYLER — State preliminary accountability ratings have been released to the public on the Texas Education Agency website. Final ratings are published in the fall after all appeals have been considered. Tyler ISD received a rating of Academically Acceptable (AA) and posted ratings for 2 Exemplary (EX), 4 Recognized (RE), 17 Academically Acceptable, 3 Academically Unacceptable campuses (AU), with 1 of the AU ratings pending appeal. The district has appealed the rating for Dogan Middle School, and based on preliminary conversations with TEA TISD officials say they believe that Dogan’s rating will be elevated to Academically Acceptable in the coming weeks. District officials say the appeal was filed when the district discovered that the state had inaccurately counted a student’s test scores due to a flaw in the state’s accounting system. The other Tyler schools rated as academically unacceptable are the city’s two high schools, John Tyler And Robert E Lee.

Elsewhere in Smith County, Lindale ISD received a district rating of Recognized from the TEA. Four campuses — Lindale High School, Lindale Junior High School, Velma Penny Elementary School and College Street Elementary School — also received ratings of Recognized. E.J. Moss Intermediate School received a rating of Exemplary, the highest rating awarded by the TEA.

Other area schools rated as academically unacceptable:
SMITH COUNTY
Azleway Charter School
Azleway Charter School Willow

GREGG COUNTY
Longview High School
J.L. Everhart Magnet El.
South Ward El.
Ware El.
Pine Tree El.
PineTree Int.

RUSK COUNTY
Overton High School
Overton El.
Carlisle School
West Rusk Middle
West Rusk El.

UPSHUR COUNTY
Gilmer El.

TYLER — On Monday, Aug. 15, in time for the beginning of the fall school semester, Tyler Transit will launch improved fixed-route bus lines and schedules. Officials say the new routes will feature improved service to Tyler’s higher education institutions, downtown, and the medical district. In addition, the Red Line will now feature two buses providing direct service every 35 minutes.

To help customers become familiar with the new routes and create new itineraries, Tyler Transit staff will be available on Monday, Aug. 1, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and on Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon, at Tyler Fire Station #7, 344 Troup Hwy., next to the transfer point. Residents who are unable to attend either of these sessions may call (903) 533-8057 and a member of Tyler Transit’s staff will be available to help them create their plans over the phone.

“This is the first major route improvement since Tyler Transit started the Yellow Line service in 2001. Since then, major shifts in traffic patterns and developments have made it necessary to improve the routes and update the schedules to ensure that Tyler Transit customers are provided the best possible service,” said Heather Nick, transit manager. “The goals identified in the study include reducing waiting times for buses, reducing the number of transfers required to make a trip, and eliminating delays at the transfer point.”

In 2009, Tyler Transit partnered with the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to develop a route study. This study was developed with input received from a steering committee whose members include local employers and civic organizations, and input from residents that was gathered at public meetings and from more than 570 questionnaires that were filled out by riders and residents citywide. Findings from the route study were presented to the Tyler City Council in October 2010. Since that time, City staff has developed detailed schedules as well new signs, a redesigned webpage and new brochures to help educate residents about the change.

One of the major changes the new routes will bring is the relocation of the main transfer point to downtown Tyler for four buses: 1 Red, 1A Red (including service to the medical district), 2 Green, and 4 Blue. The main transfer point will be relocated to the Cotton Belt Train Depot, 210 E. Oakwood St. (pictured), where riders may purchase passes, tickets and tokens. The transfer point will also offer amenities including shelters and access to restroom facilities. The Yellow Line, 3 Yellow, will transfer with each route at locations throughout the city including: the University of Texas at Tyler, Broadway Square Mall and the intersection of Walton Road and Frankston Highway. You can visit http://www.tylerbus.org to see new route maps and schedules. Brochures will be made available on all Tyler Transit buses.

CANTON — Van Zandt County authorities have arrested a man for allegedly assaulting a peace officer. On Thursday the Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of 291 VZCR 1507 in reference to a suspicious vehicle. Authorities say a DPS trooper was the first officer to make contact with the suspect vehicle and identified himself as a peace officer to the suspect, named as Adam Morris Plocheck.

Authorities say at one point, Plocheck began to fight with the trooper. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly bit the trooper on the arm. The first deputy reportedly arrived on scene to find the trooper defending himself against the assault. According to authorities, the deputy assisted in gaining control over Plocheck, and the two officers were able to place handcuffs on him. Even with the handcuffs on, authorities say Plocheck continued to fight and resist arrest. The second deputy arrived on the scene and assisted in taking Plocheck into custody. During the altercation, the first deputy was injured and eventually had to be transported to the hospital via ambulance.

Plocheck was arrested for assault on a public servant and transported to The Van Zandt County Justice Center without incident. At last report, Plocheck was still in custody and waiting to be arraigned.

TYLER — All along the Texas Gulf Coast, residents and emergency officials are gearing up for the first tropical storm of the year. While a coastal community may seem far from East Texas, The American Red Cross says families here should be preparing too by creating a family communications plan.

According to a Red Cross news release, “Personal preparedness can help keep people safer during an emergency. Having an up to date family communications plan can alleviate fear and provide peace of mind. In preparation for Tropical Storm Don, and subsequent storms, it’s important to speak to your loved ones about their evacuation plans in advance of landfall. Coastal areas often flood after major rainmakers, but inland flooding followed by evacuations is just as likely. So regardless of geography, all Texans should know who they’re going to call in the event of a major crisis.

The Red Cross says a communication tool that families can integrate into their plan is the Red Cross Safe and Well website. You can go to http://www.redcross.org to access it. The news release continues, “This public website allows those affected by disaster to register themselves as ‘safe and well’ by posting standard messages that indicate they are at a shelter, home, or hotel and will make contact when they are able. Concerned family members who know the person’s phone number or a complete home address can search for the posted messages. In addition to bringing peace of mind to those outside of the disaster area, use of this tool helps mitigate congestion of public and cellular telephone lines and reduces the burden on emergency responders.”

Red Cross officials add, “Now is the time to become familiar with Safe and Well. It’s also the time to reach out to loved ones along the coast to be sure you know their evacuation plans and to inform them about the Safe and Well website. Tropical Storm Don is the first potential Texas landfall of the year, but he may not be the last in what has already shaped up to be an active hurricane season. It is important to note that the Safe and Well website safeguards the registrant’s privacy. Standard messages are enough to provide peace of mind, but the site does not reveal the registrant’s specific location or contact information.”

Red Cross officials add that you can go to http://www.sanoysalvo.org for a Spanish version of the Safe and Well website. People without access to a computer, without electricity or in need of help from an interpreter can call the Red Cross at 1-800 RED CROSS to register. For more information on hurricane preparedness and Safe and Well, contact the Smith County Chapter of the American Red Cross at 903-581-7981, visit http://www.redcross.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS.

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) – Pilgrim’s Pride says it’s closing a chicken processing plant in Dallas, eliminating 1,000 jobs, as it looks for ways to cut costs. The Greeley, Colo.-based company said Friday that the plant would be closed within 60 days. It said production from the plant would be shifted to several of its other facilities in the area, including the processing and prepared-foods plants in Mount Pleasant.

Pilgrim’s Pride said it expects to be able to offer jobs at other facilities to employees who are losing their jobs. It also said it would offer transition programs to help those workers who don’t stay with the company. The announcement came as the company announced it lost money in the second quarter because of higher feed costs, lower consumer demand and an oversupply of chicken.

MARSHALL – One person has been stabbed to death and Marshall police have a suspect in custody. Gwindle Cofer Anderson, 61, was found in a house in the 200 block of Hickory. She later died from her injuries at Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall. Arrested at the scene was Frank Lee Nickerson, 47, of Marshall. He has been charged with murder and bond set at $300,000.