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WASKOM — FBI investigators on Monday morning were called to assist the Waskom Police Department after Citizens National Bank had their second reported bank robbery this month. Waskom ISD put all of their buildings on lock down for less than an hour after about 10:45 when officials were dispatched to the bank in the 700 block of Texas Spur 156 in Waskom, according to Sandra Rodgers, the superintendent’s secretary.

FBI spokesman Mark White said investigators were still on the scene at around 4 p.m. conducting interviews and canvassing the area to see if neighbors or area residents saw anything. White said it’s possible that Monday’s bank robber could be tied to several other robberies dating back to December. “The physical description and method the robber used was very similar to the person who robbed Citizens National Bank earlier this month, as well as seven or eight other robberies in Shreveport,” White said. “However, investigators are still looking to see if the robberies are connected or isolated.”

The bank was robbed May 6.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – Two men died when their sport utility vehicle veered off a rural road and slammed through an East Texas mobile home that had been vacated only two days before. The Texas Department of Public Safety report identifies the dead men as Zachtavius Demario Garrett, 30, and Jarome Ramon Murchison, 23. Both were wearing seat belts when they were found dead in the wreckage of their SUV early Monday just behind the mobile home they had crashed through. Neighbors reported they heard a crash about midnight Sunday. No other injuries were reported in the accident about five miles east of Nacogdoches. Mobile home owner Mary Lampin says the woman who had lived there had moved out and into a nursing home on Friday.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say a burglar was caught in the act over the weekend. On Sunday, just before midnight, officers responded to a commercial burglary alarm in the 2100 Block of Gilmer Road. When officers arrived they found a man leaving the building. According to a police report, officers stopped the man and he stated he worked for the business as a plumber. Officers also say they observed several power tools lying inside the suspect’s car. The man was identified as Dereck Alan Duvall 30, of Longview. The officers contacted the business owner. When the owner arrived on scene he told police that Duvall did not work for him. Duvall was arrested for burglary of a building, a state jail felony. Duvall was also arrested for four outstanding city warrants.

TYLER — Monday afternoon classes at Tyler Junior College’s Pirtle Technology Building were canceled for a while yesterday because of a gas leak. The building was back to normal by 5:00pm. Utility crews struck the gas line Monday morning. Faculty and staff evacuated the Pirtle building; about 150 people were inside. Officials say crews hit the gas line when they were attempting to replace an electrical line. There were no injuries.

KILGORE — The name of a woman killed Friday in a vehicle rollover has been released by the Department of Public Safety. Brittnie Bing, 23, of Kilgore was a passenger in a 2001 Chevy Metro that hit a culvert on U.S. Highway 259 south of East Danville Street in Kilgore and rolled. Two people were injured. Driver Wallace Maples, 48, and Jeanie Maples, 48, both of Kilgore are listed in stable condition at Good Shepherd Medical Center. He has a broken shoulder, and she has a leg injury, authorities said.

LONGVIEW — A Longview massage parlor, shut down back in February after a raid, is back open. The Secura Spa, located along the 2000 block of Gilmer Road, was shut down after an undercover raid revealed a couple of workers did not have a massage license. The owner was also arrested for operating a massage parlor without a license. Longview Police say the business is now in compliance.

MOUNT VERNON – Franklin County authorities are trying to identify a body found in a car that had been burned. A passing motorist saw the car Saturday morning off County Road 3170. Investigators feel the victim was killed elsewhere and the car was then driven to southern Franklin county location and set afire. The body has been sent to a lab for autopsy to help identify the victim and to help determine the cause of death.

MARSHALL – A young girl has drowned in a gold fish pond in Harrison County. Marshall police say they received the call shortly after 11:00 Saturday morning. They found the 17-month old girl’s body in about 25 inches of water in the pond next door to the house where her family was visiting. She was taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall where she was later pronounced dead. Her name was not released.

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

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation construction contractor Reynolds & Kay, Ltd., of Tyler, is scheduled to begin work Tuesday night on West Loop 323 between State Highway 155 and U.S. Highway 69 (South Broadway). Crews will be working to repair and resurface the Loop between the hours of 8:00pm and 5:00am Sunday-Thursday through mid-August. Part of the $1.4 million contract calls for repairing storm drain inlets in the same project area, which will require daytime work and overnight lane closures in those locations.

Also this week in Tyler, on the Union Pacific Railroad has rescheduled its plans to close Spur 164 in Tyler, also known as Greenbriar Road, for Tuesday. The road will be closed to all traffic between Spur 364 and State Highway 31 between 7:00am and 7:00pm while the railroad makes repairs to the crossing at that location. Detours will be posted.

Finally this week, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform pavement-texturing operations on Spur 147 (Gentry Parkway) in and around the roadway’s intersections with Glenwood, Palace and Beckham. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

KILGORE – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 259 Business in Kilgore between Lantrip Street to the south end of the US 259 Bypass. The work is being done in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Beginning Monday, Texas Department of Transportation contractor Barkley Commercial Construction is scheduled to make repairs to damaged bridge railings on the Farm Road 315 bridges over Lake Palestine just south of Chandler. The work is scheduled to last through the end of August. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

Also this week in Henderson County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2709 between Farm Road 316 in Eustace and State Highway 19 north of Athens. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, TxDOT’s District Wide Seal Coat program could begin work on roadways in Henderson County as early as Wednesday this week, weather permitting. Roads to be sealed include State Highway 31 in Trinidad, Farm Road 2892, and State Highway 19 north of Athens.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs in Jacksonville at the intersection of SW Loop 456 and Farm Road 347 on Tuesday, followed by the same work on State Highway 135 and State Highway 110 in Troup. 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.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 287 south of State Highway 294 in Elkhart. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, TxDOT’s District Wide Seal Coat program is scheduled to continue its work in Anderson County in the following locations: On Farm Road 2961 between Farm Road 59 and Farm Road 837; and on State Highway 19 between Farm Road 321 in Montalba and the Henderson 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. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation contractor Nixon Engineering is scheduled to begin repairs to the damaged bridge rail on the westbound U.S. Highway 80 bridge over Lake Fork Creek on Wednesday, June 1. The bridge was damaged on April 15. One lane will be closed at all times during the repair.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 3227 between State Highway 198 and Farm Road 47, and on Farm Road 857 just south of Grand Saline. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LANEVILLE – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1662 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and Farm Road 2753 in Anadarko. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

TYLER — Tyler’s Historic Aviation Memorial Museum is stepping up to the plate on behalf of a long-neglected Vietnam War memorial. A number of citizens recently expressed concern over the memorial, which had been vandalized and fallen into disrepair while at Bergfeld Park. Now the memorial has been moved and is undergoing restoration, thanks largely to Tyler Granite. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” museum board chair Carolyn Verver says the memorial will soon have a very nice new home in the museum’s Memorial Courtyard. Verver says the courtyard features beautiful “knockout” roses and a brick patio — adding that individuals can purchase personalized bricks for the patio as a fundraiser. Verver hopes the war memorial project can be completed by later in the spring or early summer.

You can go to http://www.tylerhamm.org to learn more about the war memorial project and the museum. You also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the “Staff Meeting” show online beginning early Monday morning.

PALESTINE — 73-year-old retiree Luther T. Harper of Palestine is dead following a one-vehicle accident that occurred around 1:30 Saturday afternoon in Anderson County. A DPS report says Harper was westbound on FM 1137 near Palestine, 7/10 of a mile north of U.S. Highway 84. Authorities say Harper left the roadway, overcorrected, and struck several trees. He was taken to Palestine Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m. Saturday. The DPS report says road conditions were clear and dry, and Harper was not wearing a seat belt.

TYLER – It was not your average day at the Goodman-LeGrand museum in Tyler. Saturday afternoon spectators gathered and spent time learning and celebrating history. Museum curator Patricia Heaton told our news partner KETK, “It is our 3rd annual event, and since the house dates back to 1859, we just thought it was a wonderful venue to bring in re-enactors that date back to the Civil War, bring in the heritage artisans that are spinning and weaving. It’s just been one of those events that were just trying to celebrate our heritage.” Along with the sights and sounds of the festival, re-enactor James Neel says events like this are crucial now more than ever. According to Neel,, “The saying is those who do not know the past are condemned to repeat it, and we would prefer not to repeat certain aspects of our past. But if we don’t know what those aspects are, how can we fail to repeat it?”

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – An East Texas lawmaker made his presence felt as the Texas House approved a measure to ban smoking in public places across Texas. The sponsor of the amendment, Denton state Rep. Myra Crownover, said the bill will save $30 million a year in health care costs associated with smoking. She faced fierce opposition from some fellow Republicans, including Longview Rep. David Simpson, who tried to also ban perfume and cologne in public places. But he was shut down by Republican Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, who said he was mocking cancer patients. After hours of debate over property rights, personal rights, and public health, state representatives added the measure to a fiscal matters law. The bill was approved 73-66. Before it can come into force, the bill must still pass through a conference committee and be signed by the governor.

MANGUM, Okla. (AP) – The first week in the trial of a former warden’s wife accused of falling in love with a convicted killer and helping him escape from prison concluded without a jury in place. Greer County, Okla., prosecutors and defense attorneys disqualified several people but chose no new jurors on Friday as they continued efforts to find an impartial panel to hear the case of Bobbi Parker. Jury selection continues today. District Attorney John Wampler has said five people “made the first cut.” Parker is accused of helping Randolph Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994 and running away with him. Defense attorneys have said Dial abducted Parker and held her captive until she was rescued at an East Texas chicken ranch in 2005.