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TYLER — The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees has approved the Service Agreement between Camp Tyler Foundation and Tyler Independent School District for one year for the 2011-2012 school year. This year, the camp raised its prices $25 per student. Camp officials say the camp’s charging price was not enough to keep it running for TISD, especially since the camp is a non-profit. Now, because of state budget cuts, TISD looked at cheaper camp options. However, many say it’s not about the price, it’s about tradition.

In other action, the Board of Trustees authorized and approved Dr. Alfreddie Coleman Felder as Principal of Ramey Elementary School. Felder has 30 years of education experience. She is joining Tyler ISD from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, as an adjunct professor in Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership. Trustees also authorized and approved Crystal Forrest as Director of Career and Technology Education (CTE). Forrest has 8 years of education experience in Palestine ISD. Both new employees will begin their duties July 1.

UPSHUR COUNTY — Upshur County�s longest-serving county judge, former Gilmer mayor, and local business owner Charles Everett Dean died Monday after a long illness, county officials said. Dean, 92, served as Upshur County Judge from 1974 to 1994 and as mayor of Gilmer from 1996 to 2003. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Gilmer. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park.

NACOGDOCHES � A Nacogdoches man was arrested Sunday evening after a person reported the vehicle he was driving nearly hit another vehicle head-on, according to a Nacogdoches Police Department Public Information Officer Greg Sowell. Officers found the Nissan pickup at about 7:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Old Tyler Road and discovered through field sobriety tests that the driver was intoxicated and had eight children between the ages of 1 and 12 in the vehicle, Sowell said.

According to KETK, authorities say there were also four adults in the pickup. Lionso Rodarte Torres, 27, is charged with one count of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger. His bond was set at $15,000. None of the children were restrained and the other four adults were not intoxicated, Sowell said. The vehicle was released to one of the occupants, who took the other occupants to their homes.

HENDERSON COUNTY � A weekend incident in Henderson County results in one death and one injury. On Sunday, sheriff’s officials responded to a disturbance in the 31000 block of CR 2100 in Henderson County. KETK reports they found Jeff Whitworth, 33, with gunshot wounds to his chest, arms, and face. They also found Wilburn “Murl” Stanfield, Jr., 43, dead in the driveway.

Henderson County investigators say Whitworth and his family were driving ATVs near their home when they were approached by Stanfield about allegedly driving recklessly in the area. Authorities say after an argument, Stanfield left briefly and returned a short time later with his cousin, Patrick Russey (pictured), and a shotgun. Stanfield allegedly shot Whitworth once, reportedly sending Whitworth and his family running for their vehicles. Once in his truck, Whitworth allegedly ran over Stanfield. According to authorities, Russey then began shooting at the truck, striking the driver’s side door several times. Stanfield was pronounced dead at the scene.

Russey was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and is being held in the Henderson County Detention Center. Whitworth is reportedly in stable condition at a nearby hospital. He is not being charged with any crime at this time. Authorities say the incident is still under investigation.

EAST TEXAS � Two East Texas soliders died this past weekend in Afghanistan. According to KETK, family members have confirmed that U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua David Powell, 28, of Quitman, was killed Saturday. Powell was killed in a Humvee along with three other soldiers, according to a statement released by the family. Powell was the son of Quitman residents Ray and Brenda Powell. He was a 2001 graduate of Quitman High School.

Gladewater High School graduate and U.S. Army Warrant Officer Bradley Justin Gaudet (pictured) was also killed Saturday, during an unrelated helicopter crash. Family members confirmed his death Monday morning. Gaudet is the son of Scott and Rhonda Owens. Scott Owens is a Gladewater city councilman. Gaudet, who has two daughters, was on his third tour of duty and was a member of the the Sixth U.S. Calvary Regiment. He was a helicopter pilot.

TYLER — Tyler fire officials say Delek Refining is currently conducting storage tank maintenance at its Tyler facility, which has created an unpleasant odor noticed by area residents. The company released the following statement Monday:

�As a result of storage tank maintenance currently underway at Delek Refining�s Tyler refinery, a harmless yet unpleasant odor has been detected in the general vicinity. Delek Refining apologizes for the inconvenience caused by this odor and is currently taking aggressive actions to eliminate the issue. At present, the company believes these actions should eliminate the odor by later this week.�

You’re asked to contact the Tyler Fire Marshal�s Office at (903) 535-0005 for more information.

CANTON — Authorities in Van Zandt County have arrested two people in a series of burglaries. On Friday, 2011 sheriff’s deputies went to a residence at 539 Holly Glenn in the Calendar Lake Addition. Upon arrival deputies made contact with two men identified as Jessie Wayne Petrea and Steven Michael Coursey. Deputies say they were able to obtain permission to search the house for possible stolen items. Authorities say during the search, several items that had been reported stolen from several different houses were located and seized. Upon finding the items, according to authorities, the sheriff�s office was able to clear seven different burglary cases. A sheriff’s office news release reports that approximately $3,000 worth of stolen items were recovered. Items included several firearms, fishing equipment, and an assortment of alcohol.

Both suspects are being held at the Van Zandt County Justice Center on the charge of burglary of a building with a bond amount of $10,000 apiece. Officials say the investigation is still ongoing and both suspects could have several other charges added at a later date.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating a weekend incident in which two people were shot. On Saturday at 1:44 a.m., police responded to a shooting victim call at Good Shepherd Medical Center. Officers learned that there were two victims who had been shot in the area of Timpson and Electra Streets. Both victims were in a car when an unknown gunman pulled up beside them. The suspect then shot several times into the victims’ vehicle before speeding away. The victims stated they did not see who shot them but were able to give officers a description of the vehicle. They described the vehicle as a white, four-door, smaller car, possibly a Honda or Toyota. The car was also missing the right side mirror. The suspect was described as a black male. Both victims sustained non-life threatening injuries.

If you have any information regarding this crime or any other crime, you are encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department at http://www.Longviewpolice.com or (903) 237-1199. Information may also be reported anonymously by contacting Gregg County Crime Stoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com or (903) 236-STOP.

LONGVIEW — Shots were fired Saturday night after a Longview homeowner pulled a shotgun on a suspected burglar. According to Longview Police, around 11:00 a resident saw a man attempting to enter the home in the 100 block of Queens Court. Officials identified the suspect as Michael Hill, 37, Longview. The homeowner reportedly pulled a shot gun on him and a shot was fired while the two wrestled over the gun. Hill attempted to escape to the house next door and was taken into custody. Hill was booked into the Gregg County Jail charged with burglary of a habitation. Bond was set at $15,000.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County is asking for redistricting input from the public at two upcoming public hearings and through the County’s redistricting web page. You can go to http://www.smith-county.com to view the web page.

According to the Census Bureau the Smith County population grew to 209,714 in 2010, making the ideal population for the four commissioner precincts 52,429. According to the initial data presented to the court, only County precincts 1 and 4 will be affected by the proposed new boundaries. Initial information showed Precinct 1 experienced significant growth and is more than 10 percent above its ideal population, while Precinct 4 needs about 9.5 percent more population. Each commissioner precinct must be within 10 percent deviation from the ideal population.

The new population numbers create a 19.5 percent imbalance. The proposed plan will
address the imbalance and bring Precinct 4 under the 10 percent threshold. Morning and evening public hearings will be held on June 21 at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. inside the Smith County Courthouse Annex, 200 E. Ferguson St. The public is also encouraged to send questions, concerns and input to County Commissioners via the “comments” tab on the Smith County redistricting page.

WHITEHOUSE (AP) – An expectant East Texas couple thought creating a Facebook page for their unborn child would be a fun and convenient way to announce their coming addition to their family to their friends. Ellie Greene says she thought it would be the most efficient way to keep her family back in Scotland updated on her pregnancy. But as will happen with Internet creations, Matt and Ellie Greene’s page took off and became a viral hit, with 800 people asking to be her Facebook friend. Then, Facebook shut the page down, since it had been created in the name of someone who had not yet moved from the realm of the fictitious to the factual. The Greenes created a new group page for updates.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Two East Texas sex offenders are sentenced to jail. Visitacion Flores, 50, Jacksonville, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault of a child. Officials say, while working at an apartment complex, Flores assaulted a 13-year-old girl. James Schlater, 53, Rusk, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after violating his probation last year. Authorities say he failed to report to his probation officer and was found in California. He was on probation for assaulting a 6-year-old relative.

JACKSONVILLE — The Cherokee County Sheriff�s Department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of East Texas seized animals from a property on CR 3304 in Jacksonville on Thursday and Friday because the animals were �cruelly confined, severely neglected and improperly fed,� according to a warrant. One horse was seized Thursday and seven horses, one bull, two cows, and one donkey were seized Friday and taken to a veterinarian in Tyler.

The SPCA of East Texas president said a tip on the organization�s hotline spurred the investigation. The owner of the animals, William Earl Franklin, is ordered to appear at a civil hearing June 13. Officials say, the animals could be awarded to the SPCA of East Texas and placed with a new owner.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation Sunday afternoon after a fire destroyed a portion of his home. According to the Longview Fire Department, fire crews were dispatched at around 1:00 to the 300 block of Millie Street in connection with a fire that started in a bedroom of the residence. Officials said the fire spread from the bedroom of the home into other parts of the residence. The fire also damaged a car parked near the home and caused some damage to a neighboring residence. Officials say it took crews about three hours to clear the scene. Extra crews were sent to assist with the fire due to the triple digit temps. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KILGORE — Kilgore College is mourning the loss of former Lady Ranger basketball coach Evelyn Blalock who died Saturday in Longview after a lengthy battle with cancer. According to Kilgore College President Dr. Bill Holda, Blalock is best described as a pioneer, a trailblazer in the history of KC women’s athletics. “As the first person to coach women’s basketball at KC, she set a standard for the program by winning three national championships,” Holda said. Evelyn was passionate, committed and loved to win. She inspired her players to reach goals which were at or above their own ability levels.”

Blalock taught at KC from 1965-1997, beginning the basketball program in 1979. In addition to the three national championships, Blalock’s teams accrued numerous other awards including six conference titles, 14-straight playoff appearances and six NJCAA National Tournament appearances. Her overall record at KC was 390-156, winning 71% of games played.

“As one of her many long-time colleagues, I join the entire KC family in mourning her passing. While we will miss her, I am happy for her that her trials and sufferings are no more,” Holda said. “She will forever be in our memory.” Funeral services for Blalock are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at at Rader Funeral Home in Longview. Visitation is also scheduled for Tuesday, from 11:00am to 1:00pm.