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LONGVIEW – Two Longview teens are in trouble after leading police on a chase over the weekend. It began around 4:30 Saturday morning when an officer noticed a car traveling at a high speed near the 2500 Block of Thirteenth Street. The officer stopped the car but the driver sped away when the officer got out of his patrol car. After a short pursuit the driver reached a dead end street. Both the driver and passenger jumped from the vehicle. Officers detained the 14 year old driver. Officers searched the area for the other suspect but were unable to locate him at that time.

The driver was arrested for evading arrest or detention in a Vehicle and he received two traffic citations including driving with no driver’s license and disregarding a stop sign. Several hours later, the mother of the other suspect brought her son, also 14 years old, to the police department. Police learned that he had taken the mother’s car without her permission and was a passenger in the vehicle during the pursuit. He was not arrested but investigators say charges will be filed against him.

TYLER — The City of Tyler’s newly refurbished Liberty Hall will get its first test run Saturday as the facility hosts a concert presented by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. Donors and supporters will be recognized at this invitation-only “soft opening” of the facility, said Liberty Hall Manager Anne Payne. A grand opening open to the public is set for Saturday, Sept. 10, Payne said.

“Saturday’s celebration is being held to recognize those people who early on in the process donated their financial support to seeing the dream of Liberty Hall become a reality,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “Not only will be have a wonderful concert by pianist Danny Wright and saxophonist Joseph Vincelli, but we will all have the opportunity to thank those who helped turn an empty old movie theater into a spectacular performing arts hall.” More than 200 people are expected at the event, Payne said.

The building in the 100 block of East Erwin began life as a 1930s-era movie theater. For years, it had been empty, and new purposes for the property were mulled. The City of Tyler partnered with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra in early 2008 to announce a cooperative project to revive the old theater building and turn it into a performing arts hall. A major fundraising effort followed, and renovation of the 6,824-square-foot facility began.

“The soft opening is only the beginning of what will be a stellar line-up of entertainment,” Payne said, adding that the theater will bring audiences downtown and contribute to the continuing effort to make downtown a center for the arts. “Not only will we have classical music at Liberty Hall, but we have comedians, classic movies, blues concerts and more scheduled for just the first few weeks the doors of the Liberty will be open. The public will have a myriad of entertainment options at Liberty Hall, including performances for children and families to scary movies on Halloween and everything in between.” Main Street Program Manager Beverly Abell added that the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition’s “Show Us Your Shorts” film festival will take place in Liberty Hall Oct. 12-15.

Information on the September grand opening and tickets for other Liberty offerings will soon be posted on the Liberty Hall website, Payne said. Those who want more information in the meantime should send email to apayne@tylertexas.com OR call Payne at (903) 595-7274.

TYLER — State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler has announced he will seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives District 6 seat. Berman, a Republican, was first elected to the seat in 1999. His only announced opponent so far is fellow Republican Matt Schaefer of Tyler.

Meanwhile, Berman has added an item to his list of suggested study topics for House committees during the interim before the 2013 legislative session. In a letter to House Speaker Joe Straus, Berman says he thinks it’s time to take a look at the success of English as a Second Language or bilingual education compared to English immersion. He says he believes such a study would be important in regard to the dropout rate of Hispanic students.

Berman also wants committees to study assertion of state sovereignty as well as clampdowns on illegal aliens and Sharia law. Additionally, Berman would like lawmakers to consider a requirement that missing or dead children be reported to authorities within one hour from discovery. That suggestion was spurred by the Casey Anthony case.

TYLER — Police in Tyler have released surveillance video as they continue to seek leads in a weekend convenience store robbery. On Friday night shortly before 11:30, officers responded to the Exxon Speed Track at 2615 E. Commerce, where the incident had just occurred. The clerk told officers that a black male wearing a stocking over his head entered the store and pointed a handgun at him while demanding money. The suspect then left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as a black male, 23 to 28 years of age, 5’ 06” to 5’ 8”, 180 to 220 pounds wearing a black shirt and dark colored pants. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

LONGVIEW — A man remained jailed Monday on $10,000 bond after police said he threatened customers at a Longview convenience store and demanded money. According to arrest reports, Jonathan Hernandez, 20, who has a Longview address, was arrested Sunday morning at Kyle’s Quick Stop in the 1400 block of West Loop 281. The victim told police that a man, later identified as Hernandez, approached them at the store with a silver object believed to be scissors and demanded money. The victim told authorities that she gave Hernandez $100, which authorities say he was found with during a search. Hernandez was charged with robbery. He also had an immigration detainer placed on him.

CANTON — Callers who provided anonymous tips that led to the arrests of six individuals in Van Zandt County in the last two months have been given rewards totaling $2,225 by the Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. The rewards were approved at the monthly Crime Stoppers meeting. Officials say rewards ranged from $700 for a serious drug-related arrest to $75 for a misdemeanor warrant. The $700 reward was for a tip that resulted in the arrest of a man and woman in Myrtle Springs. The couple was charged with possession of a controlled substance as well as child endangerment, related to exposing their four children to their alleged activities.

There were two $500 tip rewards, one for the arrest of a Grand Saline man who had outstanding assault and drug possession warrants, and the other for an Edgewood man wanted by Henderson County for drug possession and sale, who was also allegedly found with a firearm in violation of his parole. The other rewards were given for tips that led to the arrest of a Grand Saline man allegedly on military desertion charges, a Myrtle Springs man on a drug possession warrant, and a Wills Point woman on a traffic charge warrant.

“This surge in tips, arrests, and rewards is good news,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “It shows that people are calling our anonymous tip line and that these calls are leading to arrests that are taking criminals out of circulation. That’s why Crime Stoppers exists, and why we are happy to give out generous rewards to the anonymous tipsters.”

Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers always offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of a criminal offender, someone who has just committed a crime, or someone who is wanted on a warrant. By calling Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers 903-567-STOP (567-7867), people can anonymously provide information about a crime, whether it is about a recently committed crime or to report the whereabouts of someone wanted on an existing warrant. Each tip is given a special code number. After the crime is solved or the individual is arrested, Crime Stoppers determines the reward amount and provides arrangements for the tipster to anonymous collect a cash reward. Crime Stoppers callers never have to give their names or any identifying information.

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 by calling the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank will expand its Summer Bag Program thanks to a $20,000 Hunger-Free Summer grant awarded by Feeding America thanks to a donation from the ConAgra Foods Foundation. Officials say the grant will allow the Food Bank to provide bags of nutritious food over the weekend at ten rural Summer Food Service Program sites. The bags of food will be given out on Fridays to those children who participate in the Summer Food Service Program during the week but are at risk of hunger on the weekends.

According to a Food Bank news release, the grant was awarded to support the Food Bank’s efforts in alleviating hunger for East Texas children in the summer months when school is not in session. Officials say the ten sites were chosen due to the high level of need in the communities where they operate – underserved, rural communities where there is a high concentration of child poverty, but a low number of feeding agencies and child hunger programs.

The ten sites are Boys and Girls Club of Rusk County, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Sweet Union Apartment Complex, Oakgrove Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, Marion County Community Center, Addie McFarland Community Center, Hawkins Community Center, Earnest J. Woods Intermediate School, and Grapeland Elementary School.

TYLER – An argument turned into a knife fight that left two persons injured. It was reported to Tyler Police just before 8:00 Sunday night in the 1,000 block of West Trezevant. Both men sustained non life threatening injuries. One was taken to East Texas Medical Center for treatment while the other was transported to Mother Francis Hospital. The investigation into the incident is continuing.

LUFKIN – A motorcycle/minivan accident in Angelina County has left one person dead. It happened Sunday afternoon on State Highway 103 at Farm Road 1819 West of Lufkin. Killed was the man on the motorcycle, Tony Cooper, 25, of Corrigan. The Department of Public Safety report said the minivan, which had been parked on the side of the road, made a U-turn onto the highway and hit the victim.

TYLER (AP) — Officials of an East Texas zoo have buried the seven-ton carcass of the zoo’s beloved African bull elephant on the zoo grounds after its recent death. The pachyderm, named Chico, died recently at the age of 46. Officials at Tyler’s Caldwell Zoo say he was the largest African bull elephant in North America when he died. Zoo executive director Hayes Caldwell tells the Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph that the zoo buries all of its animals on its 200 acres.

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

TYLER — Beginning as early as Sunday, July 24, Texas Department of Transportation contractor APAC-Dallas is scheduled to begin nighttime pavement repairs and resurfacing on State Highway 110 in Tyler between Golden Road and 5th Street. Crews will be at work each night, Sunday-Thursday between 8:00pm and 5:00am until the work is complete in approximately two months. Meanwhile, the pavement-repair phase of the night work on Loop 323 is complete. Crews are scheduled to begin final resurfacing, also during nighttime hours, as early as this Wednesday.

JACKSONVILLE — Texas Department of Transportation contractor TNT’s Pipleline Corp., of Southlake, is scheduled to begin nighttime sweeping and resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 69 in Jacksonville tonight. Lane closures will be in effect between the hours of 7:00pm and 6:00am each night for about one week while the work is in progress between U.S. Highway 79 and South Loop 456. Motorists are encouraged to follow the instructions of flaggers and restrict left turns to areas where work is not being conducted.

Also this week in Cherokee County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 84 between Reklaw and Farm Road 2753 in Rusk County. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual seal coat preventative maintenance program is scheduled to begin work in Van Zandt County today. Crews are scheduled to begin on State Highway 198 between State Highway 64 in Canton and the Kaufman County Line, followed by Farm Road 751 between the Hunt County Line and Farm Road 47. A second crew is scheduled to perform additional seal coat operations on Farm Road 1255 between Farm Road 17 and Interstate Highway 20.

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. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

The District-Wide Seal Coat program, which will seal approximately 300 miles of roads as it passes through all eight counties in the Tyler District before the end of August, uses a two-step process of spraying down hot asphalt and covering it with rock to add years of life to existing pavement.

ATHENS — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin approximately two weeks of pavement repairs on State Highway 31 in Henderson county, beginning with about two days of work on State Highway 31 near Trinidad. Once that work is complete, crews are scheduled to move into Athens on State Highway 31 Business between the town square and East Loop 7. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on Farm Road 1990 between State Highway 294 and U.S. Highway 79 in Palestine. 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 in various locations on State Highway 300 (Gilmer Road) between Hawkins Parkway and FM 1844, including work in the SH 300/Hawkins Parkway intersection on Tuesday and Wednesday. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid the work in the Hawkins Parkway intersection.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on Farm Road 839 between U.S. Highway 79 southeast of Henderson and Farm Road 1798 in McKnight. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — The Texas Department of Transportation’s annual preventative maintenance program known as “District-Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to start work in Wood County as early as Thursday, July 21, weather permitting. Crews are scheduled to apply a seal coat to Farm Road 49 between U.S. Highway 69 in Mineola and Farm Road 14, Farm Road 778 between Farm Road 49 and U.S. Highway 80, and on US 80 between Farm Road 778 and the Upshur County Line. 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. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

TYLER — As the oppressive heat continues, PATH officials say it’s especially important to help the most vulnerable residents keep cool. The Tyler agency is continuing to collect and distribute new box fans for clients in need, while supplies last. Children and the elderly are more prone to heat related illnesses. You are invited to join PATH’s Fan Club. There are several ways you can help.

1. Purchase and bring a box fan to PATH.
2. Make a monetary donation for fans.
3. Buy a fan at Home Depot for $10 and PATH will pick it up.

You can get more details online at http://www.tylerpath.org or by calling 903-597-7284.

TYLER — The 2011 United Way of Smith County campaign is off and running, with a goal of $1.8 million. The local effort dates back to 1940. Campaign organizers say over 53,000 Smith County residents were helped last year by programs under the United Way banner.

“Our 2011 Campaign will continue to remind everyone to ‘LIVE UNITED.’ As a community, we are all connected,” said Nan Moore, United Way President. “We have been reminded over the past months that what affects one of our Smith County neighbors will in some way affect all of us. That is why we ask you to please…Give, Advocate, Volunteer…LIVE UNITED.” A special feature for 2011 is a brand new Hyundai Accent sponsored by Allen Samuels, to be given away December 15 to an individual who pledges a donation of at least $5 a week for one year.

You can visit http://www.unitedwaysmithcounty.org to learn more about the United Way of Smith County. For more information about how you or your business can get involved, call 903-581-6376.

TYLER — The countdown to this year’s Texas Rose Festival is off and running following Friday night’s official kickoff. Rose Festival Queen Morgan Rippy points to the economic boost the community gets from the event, saying large numbers of people visit Tyler each year just to see the festival. Morgan also thanked the attraction’s numerous volunteers. She says a lot of them work behind the scenes, but the festival couldn’t happen without them. Among other things, organizers say attendees can look forward to a bigger and better Rose Parade. The festival is October 13-15. You can go to http://www.texasrosefestival.com/festival/index.htm to learn all about it.

JACKSONVILLE — East Texas is known as the “Piney Woods,” and this intense drought is making things worse for trees. Our news partner KETK spoke with Jerry Seeton from the Texas Forest Service in Jacksonville. He says trees are definitely taking a big hit from the drought, with leaves discoloring and branches falling off everywhere you look. Whenever we do get a little rain, the trees are so brittle that when branches break off, it can be bad for the tree. Seeton says a five-gallon bucket could save some of your smaller trees. He says just poke two holes in the bottom, fill it with water, and let it seep out.