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NASHVILLE, TENN. (AP) — The most anticipated wedding in the country music world this year doesn’t involve a prince or a Middleton. Country’s royal couple, Lindale’s Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, are tying the knot Saturday in Texas.

Lambert says she can’t wait for the big day to get here since they’ve been engaged for a year. She’s been working out since November to avoid a crash diet and says she definitely wants to be a “fit bride.” Shelton says his only wedding hope is that Lambert doesn’t back out. He joked that it’s going to be an expensive party to not have at least gotten married there.

They are serving venison at the reception, and country singer Neal McCoy is performing. Shelton and Lambert are the reigning CMA male and female vocalists of the year.

TYLER — The physicians of Texas Spine and Joint Hospital have been named 2011 Business Hall of Fame Laureate of the Year by Junior Achievement of Greater Tyler. The announcement was made by 2011 Business Hall of Fame Chairman James Sheridan. The 39 physicians will be honored at a reception on Tuesday evening, May 17th. �Texas Spine and Joint Hospital embodies the spirit of what Junior Achievement is all about � entrepreneurship, free enterprise and the willingness to take risks to start a business,� said Sheridan. �We are fortunate to have this award winning hospital and group of physicians in our community.�

RUSK COUNTY � Authorities say a man has died in a four-wheeler mishap in eastern Rusk County. Sheriff�s deputies were dispatched to County Road 304 Thursday night around 10:00 in reference to the accident. A witness at the scene said he and the victim, Hugh Aubrey Jones, 63, of Henderson, were raccoon hunting on four-wheelers when the accident happened.

The witness told authorities that their dogs had treed a raccoon, and he moved in ahead of the victim to follow the dogs. Jones never arrived at the tree, so the witness went back to look for him. The witness found the victim on the ground pinned underneath his four-wheeler. The witness summoned help from a nearby friend, and they managed to remove the four-wheeler off Jones. The inquest was conducted by Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Joe Sorrells, who has ordered an autopsy.

TYLER — Smith County Judge Joel Baker cut the ribbon on the Spring Avenue Park Plaza on the downtown square in a ceremony Friday morning. The downtown plaza that stands in the spot where a devastating fire ripped through five Spring Avenue properties two years ago is now open to the public. The historical storefront facades of the buildings were salvaged and now frame shaded plaza and garden space that downtown patrons are invited to enjoy. �Little did we realize that what was then such a tragic historical and material loss to both owners and occupants, as well as our entire community, could turn into such a beautiful spot for all to enjoy,� Judge Baker said.

Thanks to the Smith County Historical Society, the plaza is adorned with a 4-foot-wide by 7-foot-tall cast stone relief, depicting the Spirit of Progress, a woman dressed in flowing robes balanced on a globe, holding a torch above her head and extending a caduceus in her other hand. The relief was originally on the front of Montgomery Ward Co. in downtown Tyler in the 1930�s.

Officials say the Park Plaza project was made possible by generous donations from the Genecov Group and the Brookshire Grocery Co. to the citizens of Smith County. In 2009, following the fire, Genecove donated the five damaged buildings to Smith County. In 2010 The Brookshire Grocery Co. made a $300,000 contribution to stabilize and renovate the historic facades, clean the damaged site and construct the public plaza.

RUSK COUNTY — A 2010 Mother’s Day murder remains unsolved. Now Rusk County authorities are asking for the public’s help. The body of Jason Vickers, 44, Kilgore, was found in May of last year inside an abandoned mobile home off CR 1112 in Rusk County. Sheriff’s Deputies say they’re looking for information on Vicker’s death and have increased the reward. Deputies say even the smallest detail can lead to an arrest. Contact Rusk County authorities or Crimestoppers if you have any information.

TYLER — A man involved in a shooting at Broadway Square Mall is arrested and charged. Tyler Police say several shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot of the mall. Authorities say one man tried selling Xanax to Kevin Willams, 26, Tyler. The two men reportedly started arguing when the “dealer” started shooting at Willams before driving off. Police say when they arrived on the scene, Willams was under the influence of drugs. He was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and later arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities are still searching for the alleged shooter. He’s described as a black male 25-30 years of age with tattoos on arms. He had short black hair, goatee, was about 5�5� to 5�06� and weighed around 175 pounds. He drove away in a maroon 4-door Cadillac or Town Car.

TATUM � A Rusk County teenager is in custody after she allegedly stole her mother�s car and led police on a chase that at times topped 100 miles an hour. Around 6:00 Wednesday a mother called the sheriff�s department about a dispute. As officers were heading to the house on County Road 2173, the mother called back to say her daughter had taken her car and was heading to Henderson.

The 14 year old girl fled from officers by heading into Henderson and then turned around and headed back toward Tatum. Officers were able to stop her car by putting spikes in the road. The spikes flattened two tires and she ran off into a ditch.

AUSTIN (AP) � The Texas House passed a bill that would make it a criminal offense for public servants to inappropriately touch travelers during airport security pat-downs. Approved late Thursday night, the measure makes it illegal for anyone conducting searches to touch “the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person” including through clothing. It also prohibits searches “that would be offensive to a reasonable person.”

The bill’s chief sponsor is Republican Representative David Simpson of Longview, who said, “This has to do with dignity and travel, and prohibiting indecent, groping searches.” He believes it will keep Transportation Security Administration officials from treating travelers like criminals, though the measure may be superseded by federal law.

After a brief but raucous debate, lawmakers approved the measure with little opposition, drawing applause from supporters.

TEXARKANA (AP) � Northeast Texas investigators have determined the eldest child of a woman found dead with her youngest child after a house fire west of Texarkana died as a homicide. Bowie County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Larry Parker said the initial autopsy report didn’t indicate a precise cause of 11-year-old Guinevere Doss’ death, but that all signs were consistent with homicide.

Guinevere’s grandparents removed her body from the burning house Wednesday, but the bodies of Amanda Doss, 34, and her 8-year-old child, Texas Johnson, were found in the burned ruins of the house. Parker said autopsies are expected to be performed on them in Dallas today. Parker says no suspects have been identified, but interviews of family members and friends continue.

NACOGDOCHES — The Nacogdoches school board made it official Thursday night, Dr. Fred Hayes is the district�s new school superintendent. Hayes, who is currently the Athens school superintendent, was named lone finalist to the Nacogdoches post last month. Hayes, a former principal at Tyler�s Robert E. Lee High School, starts his new duties in Nacogdoches June 9th.

AUSTIN � An Angelina County man is one of eight persons appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Trinity River Authority Board of Directors for terms to expire March 15, 2017. The authority oversees development and conservation of surface water resources of the Trinity River Basin.

Among those appointed to the panel was Dennis ‘Joe’ McCleskey of Apple Springs. He is owner of Angelina Excavating Inc. He is secretary/treasurer of the Piney Woods Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and a member of the Texas Wildlife Association, Lufkin Host Lions Club, and Angelina County Youth Fair Buyers Group Committee. He is also past president of the Deep East Texas Association of Builders, former committee member of the Hudson ISD Community Involvement Advisory Board, and a past volunteer with Angelina County Habitat for Humanity.

The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

TYLER � A young boy was slightly injured when knocked from his bike by a pit bull. The incident occurred around 10:15 Thursday morning on the southern portion of Rose Rudman Trail. Tyler police say the 5 year old boy was accompanied by his mother, who was on a bike. They say the dog �came out of nowhere� and knocked the boy off his bicycle. Officers at the scene believed the pit bull was not being aggressive, but was being playful with the child.

The youngster was attended to by paramedics with East Texas EMS. The dog scratched the child, but no biting occurred. The child also suffered minor scratches from being knocked off his bike. He was not transported for medical treatment and was released to his mother.

Animal Control responded and took custody of the dog. The dog was wearing a collar with the name �Titan� on it. No other information was on the collar.

LONGVIEW — A Longview High School teacher resigned Thursday following his arrest in Upshur County on charges of sexual assault and indecency with a child, Longview ISD officials said. Robert Craig Varnell, 54, was a high school science teacher and one of the district’s University Interscholastic League coordinators. He was booked in the Upshur County Jail at 12:25 a.m. Thursday, charged with indecency with a child and sexual assault, according to the jail website. He is being held on bonds totaling $500,000. An arrest warrant was issued by a Gregg County agency, but Varnell was arrested in Upshur County. He lives in Diana. Varnell sent a handwritten note to the district to resign. Varnell started working for Longview ISD in fall 2009 and was in his second year as a teacher. Prior to working for Longview ISD, he taught at LeTourneau University.

TYLER — The police investigation of the fatal crash that occurred at Broadway and Independence on May 10 has found that the accident had no link to the flashing yellow traffic signal in place at the intersection. The Tyler Police Department has released the audio interview with the driver of the 2008 Chevrolet Impala four-door involved in the crash, Helen Turner from Lindale. �The audio interview with Mrs. Turner clearly reveals that she understood what she was to do at the signal,� said Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle. �She looked, felt she had time to make the turn, and proceeded through the intersection. She then felt the impact of the motorcycle striking her vehicle.�

According to authorities, Mrs. Turner’s vehicle was involved in the fatal accident in which she failed to yield the right-of-way while turning left. Kendrick Clark was operating a 2008 Kawasaki Motorcycle and stuck Mrs. Turner�s vehicle. Mr. Clark died as a result of the accident. The case will now be submitted to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office for presentation to a Smith County Grand Jury.

City officials say since 2008, 40 flashing yellow arrow signals (FYA) have been installed by the City in an effort to improve traffic progression in the City following the results of the Tyler 21 planning process that showed traffic was the number one concern for Tyler citizens. The determination was made to use this type of device following a seven year study by the Federal Highway Safety Administration that showed that FYAs were safer than a permissive green ball. The Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices includes these signals as an approved traffic control device, and their use has grown significantly across the nation in the last two years. Preliminary studies conducted by the City of Tyler Traffic Engineering Department on the intersections where the first 14 FYAs were installed shows that crashes have decreased by eight percent overall.

TYLER � A federal grand jury has returned multiple indictments charging individuals with separate federal crimes in the Eastern District of Texas.

Howard Wayne Collins, 66, of Greenville, was indicted for failing to register as a sex offender. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, from Sep. 21, 2010, to Apr. 7, 2011, Collins, a convicted sex offender, is alleged to have traveled in interstate commerce while failing to register as required by the Sex Offender Notification Act.

Kevin Davis Locklear, 25, of Jefferson — another convicted sex offender — was also indicted for failing to register as a sex offender and faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted. According to the indictment, from July 29, 2010, to May 2, 2011, Locklear is also alleged to have traveled in interstate commerce while failing to register as required by the Sex Offender Notification Act.

Edward Charles Lee, 45, of Gladewater, was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the indictment, on Apr. 7, 2011, Lee is alleged to have been found in possession of a stolen firearm. Lee was previously convicted of felony offense battery in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1993. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon to possess or own firearms or ammunition. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Benito Salazar, Jr., 30, of Dallas; Jose Raul Perez, 23, of Dallas; and Celophis Williams, 28, of Irving, were indicted on charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, they each face a minimum of 10 years, but not more than life, in federal prison. According to the indictment, the defendants are alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy with others to possess and distribute cocaine and money from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas, by way of Interstate Highway 30, through the Eastern District of Texas.

Humberto Oliveros-Contreras, 34, a Mexican national, was indicted for being an alien unlawfully present in the United States after having been deported. According to the indictment, on Apr. 7, 2011, Oliveros-Contreras was located at the Rusk County Probation Office. An investigation revealed he had been deported to Mexico on several occasions. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and deportation.