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TITUS COUNTY — Mount Pleasant police officers found about 745 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop of U-Haul van on Interstate Highway 30 East. Officer Juan Hernandez’s canine partner VADAR, alerted to the van, and a search revealed the marijuana “bundled and hidden in the back of the van,” Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell said. Wilber Pressley, 40, of Spring and Ralph Ross, 37, of Detroit, Mich., were arrested and charged with possession of between 50 and 2,000 pounds of marijuana. They were being held in the Titus County Jail, each on $75,000 bond, Isbell said. The estimated street value of the seized marijuana is around $525,000, Isbell said.

WHITE OAK — Three people are hospitalized after a Gregg County wreck. It happened yesterday morning on U.S. Highway 80 in the White Oak area. Gregg County D-P-S officials told KETK a woman’s pickup truck ran out of gas, coming to a stop in the right eastbound lane. Her husband arrived on scene to tow her vehicle and parked directly in front of hers. While he was working between the vehicles, another driver hit the back end of the woman’s vehicle, pinning her husband between the two trucks. The man was flown to a Tyler hospital with serious injuries. The woman and other driver were taken to local hospitals.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department responded to a two alarm structure fire at Bullard Crossing Apartments, 5105 Old Bullard. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene shortly after 7:00 yesterday morning. Fire personnel were able to bring the fire under control quickly and damage was limited to one apartment. The apartment above the fire sustained slight smoke damage. No injuries were reported and previously evacuated residents in the surrounding units were returned to their apartments. The Fire Marshal’s office is conducting the investigation. A cause has not yet been determined.

LUFKIN — A man who allegedly tried to rob a Lufkin bank earlier this month is behind bars after numerous tipsters were able to identify him. According to KETK, Anthony Dewayne Bond, 23, of Cleveland is accused of entering the First Bank and Trust on November 5 and giving the teller a fake withdrawal slip for the amount of $5,000.

On the slip was a fake name and account number. After running the name and account through the bank’s computer system, no match was made. She asked Bond for identification, but he refused. After noticing the back of the slip demanded money to be put in a zip lock bag, the teller then left to speak with a manager, but when she returned, Bond had left the scene.

After releasing photos of Bond to the public, multiple tips, including one from a Nacogdoches County deputy, poured in identifying the suspect. Lufkin police arrested the alleged robber on November 9 and booked him into the Angelina County Jail.

The district attorney’s office has since charged Bond with false statement to obtain property. The crime did not meet the state’s requirements of a bank robbery, according to Lufkin Police Detective J.B. Smith. Bond was also wanted by the Lufkin Police Department for burglary and is being held on $120,000 bail.

TYLER Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that extensively damaged a Smith County mobile home. It was reported around 6:30 Tuesday night just outside of Tyler on U.S. Highway 69 north of the Tyler Loop. It appears to have started in a bed room. There were no injuries.

VAN — State Representative Dan Flynn of Van is drawing attention on a couple of fronts. One measure he’s introduced in the Legislature calls for the Ten Commandments to be posted in what is called a “prominent location” in public school classrooms. The bill says school boards cannot block the posting of the commandments, which he calls a non religious educational document. Flynn says, “If you walk into the Supreme Court building in the United States capital, first thing you see is the scroll of the Ten Commandments.” The Ten Commandments has had a rocky life in the courts. But the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 upheld the posting of the Commandments on the grounds of the state capitol, holding that it is a historical document.

Earlier, we learned Flynn is hoping to implement a two-year moratorium on the STAAR assessment program this legislative session. Flynn says STAAR causes way to much stress on students, teachers and parents, and he doesn’t think they need it. According to Flynn, “Employers, colleges, technical schools — nobody has ever asked for a copy of STAAR grades.” Flynn introduced the bill as an amendment last year and got a lot of support for it. He says under his bill, it will be up to the school districts to decide if they want to opt out — and accept their portion of the money set aside for STAAR to spend as they see fit.

JACKSONVILLE — Lon Morris College, the 168-year-old junior college in Jacksonville that filed bankruptcy, is seeking Court approval for an auction on December 13th at 11:00am. KETK reports AmeriBid LLC would conduct the auction for qualified bidders only at McKool Smith, PC, 300 Crescent Court, 12th floor, Dallas. Upon approval by the United States Bankruptcy Judge in Tyler, the core of the College’s 112-acre campus will be auctioned, including such features as a library, chapel, administration building, classroom facilities, student center, dormitories, and fields. “We’re delighted to have the auction plans finalized. AmeriBid will be providing prospective bidders with detailed information about the school and its extensive campus,” said Dawn Ragan, Chief Restructuring Officer for the college.

Stephen Karbelk, co-chairman and founder of AmeriBid, said he expects prospective bidders to include other colleges, churches, denominations, school systems, and other groups that might wish to use the property as a conference center, corporate retreat, or even residential treatment center. The college property will be offered in multiple parcels and as an entirety.

LONGVIEW — A group of citizens has announced the formation of the “Longview United for Growth Committee,” a special purpose political action committee, to ask voters to support limited alcohol sales for Longview’s current boundaries. Longview United for Growth will need to collect approximately 6,000 signatures of registered Longview voters on a petition calling for the election in May 2013.

The petition will allow a vote for the legal sale of beer and wine in stores for off-premise consumption only; it will not allow additional package liquor sales or liquor stores, except those already approved by voters in previous elections. Currently, Longview alcohol sales are based on elections held after Prohibition that legalized alcohol sales on the southern and eastern part of the city to the Gregg-Harrison County line. In 2007, Longview citizens voted to allow mixed beverage alcohol sales in restaurants.

Longview United feels the economic development of northern and western parts of Longview are being hampered because beer/wine off-premise sales are not allowed on most of the Loop 281 northern corridor from approximately Tryon Road East to Harrison Road West. According to Longview United, changing this law would allow those areas to be able to recruit more supermarkets and grocery stores, allow the existing grocery stores to compete with stores in the “wet” area, and would also bring east Longview under the same rules. You can go to http://longviewwins.com to learn more. Thus far, no group has announced opposition to Longview United’s effort.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has passed several city ordinances in relation to the newly passed alcohol propositions. KETK reports councilmembers took into consideration four ordinances — three pertaining to the regulation of beer and wine sales. Beer and wine stores’ property lines are required to be 300 feet from any church property line. The distance for schools and hospitals has not been determined due to possible differences in city and state restrictions. Stores will not be allowed in “RPO” zones, which are residential and professional office areas.

The opening of “beer barns,” or packaged drive through food and beverage businesses, will require special use permits and will limited to M-2 Zones, or General Industrial District areas only. Beer and wine stores will only be allowed one sign, unless the business is on a corner, thus permitting two signs. The sign’s content will be regulated by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the sign’s size by the city, which is no more than 50 square feet per banner. The City of Tyler restricts animated, flashing, blinking, or electronic message signs within the city. However, the use of “static,” or non-moving, signs, including neon signs, is permitted as long as they meet the TABC five foot distance requirement from any store front window or door. Heather Nick with the city’s planning and zoning department says there’s a business kit available on the city’s website outlining the process of implementing beer and wine sales.

Meanwhile, a petition to contest results of Tyler-area alcohol elections this month is filed by the district clerk. The petition alleges the city clerk and county election office did not comply with election law requirements during the certification process.

TYLER — TxTAGs will be available for sale at the Texas Department of Transportation in Smith County this week. TxDOT’s Larry Krantz says customer service specialists will be on hand at the Tyler area office, at the interchange of Toll 49 and Highway 155 South in Noonday. You can meet with them between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and until noon on Thursday, to purchase a new TxTAG or get help with existing account questions. The tags are good for use on any toll road in Texas. “This is a limited time offer,” said Krantz, “and we’re staying open until 6 to make it as convenient as possible to get a TxTAG.” After noon Thursday, those wanting to buy a TxTAG can or log on to http://www.txtag.org or call 1-888-Go-TxTAG.

TYLER — Centene Company of Texas, L.P., has broken ground on a new facility in Tyler, and officials in the city say it will offer a big boost to the local economy. Centene projects 327 new employees in Tyler with an average salary and fringe benefits of $45,000. Tom Mullins with the Tyler Economic Development Council says annual payroll would be about $13.4 million within four years. Centene Company of Texas is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a publicly-traded Fortune 500 health insurance company with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Company officials say it’s expanding its customer base in Texas. The 50,000-square foot core claims processing facility will be located in the new Tyler Business and Technology Park on Earl Campbell Parkway.

Centene Corporation, a leading manager of health care services, is the nation’s fourth-largest Medicaid manager. The company is a multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care, long-term care, other state-sponsored programs and Medicare (Special Needs Plans).

GLADEWATER — State Senator Kevin Eltife announced he will introduce a bill to honor a Gladewater veteran by renaming a 12-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 80 in honor of U.S. Army Master Sgt. Travis E. Watkins, who was recognized posthumously for his bravery during the Korean War. According to KETK, Eltife, R-Tyler, said he will sponsor a bill to rename U. S. 80 from U.S. Highway 271 to the Big Sandy city limits “Travis E. Watkins Memorial Highway.” Cheryl Vanek, Eltife’s chief of staff, said the bill was not ready to be pre-filed Monday on the first day legislators could pre-file bills, but should be ready to file by January when the 83rd Legislative Session begins. Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, announced in a Twitter feed Monday afternoon that he had pre-filed a companion bill in the Texas House of Representatives.

LUFKIN — In an odd twist, a Lufkin man is behind bars after he allegedly attacked the man who is believed to have just burglarized his home. According to KETK, just before 12:30 Monday morning, an officer witnessed three men jump a fence to an awaiting vehicle. When the policeman tried to approach the suspects, they all ran from the area on foot.

Two of the three alleged burglars were caught shortly after running, and it was learned they had just broken into a house, stealing guns, clothing, a TV and other miscellaneous items.

A few hours later, around 3:00, officers were dispatched to the same area to reports of a disturbance. When they arrived again in the 2000 block of Lowry Street, they found the man who had been burglarized, Eddie R. Fletcher, 26, of Lufkin, had found and allegedly attacked the third man accused of stealing from his home.

Fletcher was arrested and is charged with assault. The three men accused of burglarizing his home, Terrance J. Harris, 23, Joshua R. Nash, 23, and Ishmeal M. Washington, 24, were all charged with burglary of a habitation and evading arrest.

TYLER – A new coalition has been formed to help the Tyler school system make the grade. The four person group Monday presented a list of reasons the TISD is unacceptable in its handling of everything from education results to how it treats its teachers. The group is called “No More Excuses, Tyler ISD!” They say the problems are not new, they go back several years.

The group feels that a school bond issue that may come next spring is not the answer. They feel the school district must first address academic, personnel and student discipline issues before they consider constructing new buildings.

JoAnn Fleming from Grassroots America: We the People say they are tired of hearing excuses. She said “The time has come to face these issues head on.” The main issues addressed by the group were TISD’s poor academic results, growing discipline issues and the lack of respect for teachers.

A member of the group is Cedrick Granberry, a father of students in TISD. He said he is ok with paying money to improve the school system, but after the latest results from the state comptroller’s office, he wonders where his money’s going. “My youngest goes to an elementary that was given a 1.5 star and that’s a brand new school,” Grandberry said.

KETK said it contacted TISD and this was their response; “”As always, Tyler ISD appreciates and welcomes concerns and input from the community. We will review the information presented today and will forward these concerns to the Board of Trustees for further review.” After school trustees look over the information they should have more to say later this week.

SHREVEPORT – Eight persons have been arrested at the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport for drug possession. The arrests, which were made over the weekend, include fair goers and carnival workers. One of the fairgoers taken into custody was Timothy Haley, 41, of Hawkins. Ketk Reports he was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center on a charge of drug possession.

FLINT – A Smith County home has been heavily damaged by fire. It was reported around 5:00 yesterday afternoon on County Road 189, in the southwestern part of the county. KETK reports neighbors woke up the 91 year old man living in the house. He was able to escape unharmed. Two barns in the back of the property also caught fire. No word on what started the blaze.

LONGVIEW – A Longview home has been extensively damaged by fire. It was reported around 8:00 Monday morning in the 2200 block of 13th Street. No one was home when the fire started and no injuries were reported. Investigators say the fire started from an electric heater that was too close to a bed.

KILGORE – Kilgore fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a Kilgore home. It was reported around 11:30 Saturday night in a duplex at 505 Town Oaks Drive. There were no injuries.

EAST TEXAS — In conjunction with the Shreveport Police Department, the Caddo Sheriff’s Department took into custody multiple people for alleged drug possession at the Louisiana State Fair over the weekend. According to KETK, on Saturday, agents with narcotics unit conducted a one-night operation at the fair and made eight arrests, including some carnival employees. The workers have been identified as Issam Alkheid, 26, of Huntington Beach, CA, Jay Beeson, 31, of Dallas and Fawn Odom, 31, of Casper, WY. All three are were charged with possession of a drug.

Fairgoers arrested were Adam Anderson, 31, of Shreveport, Tyler Dickson, 20, of Traskwood, AR, Rumney Evertt, 50, of Shreveport and Timothy Haley, 41, of Hawkins. (pictured) All five were charged with possession of a drug and booked into the Caddo Correctional Center.

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches authorities are searching for a man who allegedly pulled a rifle on a jogger in a local park. It happened just before 6:00 Monday morning at the Lanana Creek Trail. According to KETK, the victim told police he was running on the trail when a middle-aged white man, dressed in camouflage, appeared behind him pointing a deer rifle in his direction. The gunman then re-entered a wooded area near the trail. The Nacogdoches Police Department closed the trail from Main Street to the back of Pecan Park while they hunted for the man. Officers were not able to locate the alleged gunman and reopened the trail around 8:30.

GREENVILLE — Some possible new leads into the murder of a Greenville teenager whose body was found in a trunk along a Van Zandt County road last week. Investigators released new images from surveillance video of a vehicle of interest in hopes that someone could identify it. Alicia Moore, 16, went missing after getting off a school bus just blocks from her home. Her body was found last Tuesday. Greenville police say they’ve received several helpful calls.

LONGVIEW — Authorities have identified the man killed in a train accident in Longview. It happened around 6:30 Saturday evening in the 100 block of Eastman Road. Jon Thomas Klar, 40, Longview, was found dead on the tracks after he fell under the train while trying to get off a train car. According to KETK, alcohol intoxication may have played a factor in the incident. The accident remains under investigation.

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

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make pavement repairs on State Highway 64 (Glenwood Boulevard) between State Highway 31 (Front Street) and the water tower. A second crew is scheduled to perform pavement repairs on Interstate Highway 20 ramps and frontage roads at State Highway 155 and Farm Road 757. The work will involve brief ramp closures while the work is in progress. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zones.

Also this week, beginning Tuesday, TxTAGs will be on sale at the Tyler Area Office, located at the interchange of Toll 49 and SH 155 in Noonday. Customer service specialists will be on duty between 8:00am to 6:00pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and until noon on Thursday to sign up new TxTAG customers or to help with existing account questions. The tags, which are good for use on any toll road in Texas, are also available online at http://www.txtag.org or by calling TxTAG customer service at 1-888-Go-TxTAG.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1799 between U.S. Highway 80 and Farm Road 779 in Golden, and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1801 east of Mineola, and on Farm Road 515 and Farm Road 2225 near Lake Fork. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Beginning Wednesday this week in Winnsboro, TxDOT and the Kansas City Southern Railroad will be closing the railroad crossings at State Highway 11, Farm Road 312, State Highway 37 and Farm Road 852 so the railroad can make repairs to its tracks. The crossings will be closed on at a time, beginning with SH 11. The railroad’s plans call for closing FM 312 on Friday, then SH 37 on Saturday, November 17. FM 852 will be closed Monday, November 19. Detours will be posted at each closure to help motorists find ways around the work.

LONGVIEW – Construction crews from Texas Department of Transportation contractor Longview Bridge & Road is scheduled to continue final resurfacing operations on State Highway 149 (Eastman Road) and State Highway 322 (Estes Parkway) between Interstate Highway 20 and Sysco Foods, then begin final resurfacing on Eastman Road between SH 322 and IH 20. Crews will begin by closing the inside lanes and center turn lane on Eastman Road for resurfacing work, including overnight lane closures through Wednesday, before swapping traffic into the inside lanes midweek so work can be done on the outside lanes. One lane will be open to traffic in each direction while the lane closures are in place. Some turns may be restricted while work is performed directly in front of driveways or in the center turn lane. Motorists are strongly encouraged to use caution in the work area, and seek an alternate route if possible to avoid delays.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations in various locations on U.S. Highway 175 east of Athens between Loop 7 and Farm Road 804. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on State Highway 43 between the Henderson Star and Farm Road 1251 in New Prospect. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin resurfacing operations on Farm Road 47 between Farm Road 2475 near Lake Tawakoni State Park and Farm Road 751 in Wills Point. 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 delays.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1137 between U.S. Highway 84 and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume shoulder work on Farm Road 855 between U.S. Highway 69 in Mount Selman and U.S. Highway 175 near Cuney. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK — Cherokee County jury duty scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8:30 in the 369th Judicial District Court has been canceled. If prospective jurors have any questions, they should contact the court office at 903-683-2236.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation has raised $50,000 of its $150,000 campaign goal for this school year. The announcement was made at the foundation’s recent kickoff luncheon. The campaign continues through March 1, 2013. Also at the event, six honorees (pictured) were inducted as second year members of the foundation’s prestigious Honor Roll. Following are brief sketches of the honorees and their contributions:

C.C Baker was principal of John Tyler High School and Billy Hall was principal of Robert E. Lee when John Tyler burned in 1981. The students of John Tyler were transported to the Lee campus and were welcomed with streamers and welcome signs, all created by Lee’s student body. The TISD Foundation’s Larry Goddard points to “the leadership and collegial relationship between Baker and Hall.”

Bonnie and Tab Beall are long time donors from their personal funds as well as Mr. Beall’s law firm, Perdue Brandon Collins Fielder and Mott LLP. Goddard says upon calculating the growing Beall Family Endowment, and with creative planned giving processes such as paid life insurance policies, the Bealls’ Endowment will have a corpus in perpetuity for students who might not otherwise have an opportunity for higher education.

According to Goddard, Jill Fondren is the Payroll Coordinator for Tyler ISD and carefully prepares the detailed work of creating exact payroll and with many deductions for close to 3,000 employees. Goddard says Mrs. Fondren kept the bookkeeping for the Foundation on her own time for fourteen years and prepared the IRS 990 form for nonprofits, which Goddard terms a highly complex form. No findings from auditors were ever found while Mrs. Fondren prepared the books in collaboration with the Foundation, which now uses a community CPA firm.

Finally, a well-known and popular Tyler ISD graduate, Kathey Comer, is credited with sustaining the foundation after the small group of founders had passed on. “Mrs. Comer, through her tenacity of finding the right directors at the right time, led countless meetings on campaign and event planning,” said Goddard. “Her upbeat speeches in the board meetings provided pure genuine guidance that has made the Tyler ISD Foundation a strong entity in Texas and the United States.” Mrs. Comer is honored in memory of her mentor, Mrs. Pat Oge, founding member of the Tyler ISD Foundation.

TYLER — The United Way of Smith County is conducting a community survey as part of its Community Assets and Needs Assessment. United Way officials say they’re serious about their responsibility as good stewards of the donors’ monies in addressing community needs. According to a United Way news release, “To ensure that United Way continues to address the community’s most pressing needs, it is important that everyone in the community has an opportunity to share their perceptions, experience and opinions about the needs of the community, The survey also asks about the assets and strengths of the community.”

“If you live in Smith County, we ask that you take a few minutes to complete the survey,” said United Way Community Relations Director Lisa Gardner. Log on to http://www.unitedwaysmithcounty.org to complete the survey, There is a large, gold “Community Needs Survey” button in the middle of the home page.

The first introduction of this survey to the community was at the East Texas State Fair. After gathering over 400 surveys at the Fair, United Way of Smith County is now reaching out to even more residents of Smith County to complete the survey online. The data collected from the surveys will be compiled by UT Tyler and released in a report in January 2013. The final report will be made available to Smith County municipalities, the county, nonprofits, other funding entities and other interested parties for future planning and development.

TYLER — Tyler’s Salvation Army has kicked off two key projects for the holiday season. Friday, November 9, marked the kickoff event for the 2012 Salvation Army Angel Tree, at Broadway Square Mall in front of JC Penney. Each year, residents are asked to visit the tree and pick a needy “angel” who might not otherwise receive Christmas gifts. All new and unwrapped angel tree gifts must be returned to the angel tree location or The Salvation Army by December 14.

Also, the Salvation Army held a Kettle Kick-Off Concert Saturday, November 10, at Rose Heights Church, to kick off the Red Kettle 2012 season. Kettles were on site at the concert for the community to begin donating. Bell ringing officially begins Friday, November 23, and continues through Monday, December 24. Volunteers can begin signing up now at http://www.ringbells.org and view other volunteer opportunities. Go to http://www.salvationarmytyler.org to learn more about the Salvation Army.

LONGVIEW — Two Longview men were arrested Thursday in connection with a burglary. LeDaryon Antwon Anderson, 27 (pictured) and Matthew Ewers, 38, were found standing next to a truck with antique collectibles inside. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the antiques were allegedly taken from a nearby house earlier that day. Ewers and Anderson live in the 3400 block of Morrison Street. It’s the same block of the house where the items apparently came from. According to arrest affidavits, a witness told police she saw the men enter the vacant house and steal the items. They were charged with burglary and held in the Gregg County Jail on $10,000 bonds.

TYLER — Smith County offices will be closed today in observance of Veterans Day. Regular office hours will resume tomorrow. For the week of November 12, Commissioners Court will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 15. There will be no meeting Thanksgiving week. Court will resume regular meeting times on Tuesday, November 27.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) – The Navy is telling its leaders around the world to work harder on preventing sexual assaults by sailors after two enlisted men, including one from East Texas, were arrested in Japan on rape charges, inflaming tensions with a critical ally in the region. The alleged rape was reported Oct. 16 in Okinawa, leading to an uproar on the island and a sharp rebuke from the Japanese government. According to Japanese media, the sailors had been drinking before they attacked the woman, in her 20s, who was on her way home before dawn.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. We cannot comprehend the grief and trauma she has endured. We are appalled that such violent criminal behavior reportedly emerged from our ranks,” Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces command, wrote in a message to their top officers and enlisted leaders on Nov 3. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the message on Friday. Charged in the case are Seaman Christopher Browning of Athens, Texas, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Skyler Dozierwalker of Muskogee, Okla. Both are 23, joined the military in 2008 and are assigned to Joint Naval Air Station, Fort Worth, Texas.

GREGG COUNTY — A Dallas man with warrants for his arrest on drug charges was stopped Thursday morning on Interstate 20 with 30 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of his vehicle, police said. Alejandro Rene Prieto, 30, of Dallas, was stopped at 11:35 a.m. on I-20 by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, according to his arrest affidavit. According to the Longview News-Journal, after running his information, troopers said they found Prieto was wanted in Dallas County on charges of possession of between four ounces and five pounds of marijuana and failure to identify a fugitive. Prieto was arrested and troopers found 30 pounds of marijuana in the back of Prieto’s SUV, according to his arrest affidavit. He was charged with possession of between five and 50 pounds of marijuana, according to his booking report. Prieto was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on more than $35,000 in bonds.