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TYLER – Three persons are in custody in connection with two separate aggravated assaults. Both occurred around 8:45 Monday night in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Store at 5050 Troup Highway.

Two women told officers they were shot with darts while in the store’s parking lot. In both cases the darts penetrated their skin up to an inch. One woman was hit in the leg and the other in the arm, narrowly missing her face. Both were treated and released at the scene. Both described the suspect vehicle as a red Chevy pickup truck containing several male subjects.

Witnesses followed the vehicle until officers were able to catch up to them. They were stopped in the Dairy Queen parking lot at 12050 State Highway 64 East. A blow dart gun and darts were recovered in the truck. The suspects are identified as Matthew Allen Arnold, 18, of Troup, (pictured) Kasey Dewayne McClendon, 17, of Overton and Gregory Alan Smith, 17, of Arp. They were charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for each victim.

Tyler police say the two victims did not know each other and were in different areas of the parking lot when they were struck with the darts. The victims are Kathryn Bilberry, 26, of Chandler, and Stephanie Spencer, 19, a student attending UT Tyler. Police say the suspects had purchased the dart gun at Academy 7:50 Monday night and used it a short time after, to shoot the two female victims. Police believe that this was a random act of violence and the victims were not targeted.

WHITEHOUSE – A home on Lake Tyler has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 6:30 Thursday night on Peninsula Road. No injuries were reported and the cause remains under investigation. Neighbors say the homeowner left to visit someone and left a hamburger cooking on the stove, but there’s no official word on how that may have been related to the blaze.

DALLAS — Sulphur Springs resident McKenzie Glenn gave her three-year-old son one of her kidneys Monday. Jace’s diseased kidneys were removed when he was just weeks old — and he’s been on dialysis all this time. Chris Hawes with Medical City of Dallas says the family is thrilled “that he’s going to grow up, it looks like, and have a wonderful, normal life and have all the things that we take for granted. We asked what they were excited about, and one of the things that she said was just going to school, he’ll be able to go to school with other children.” Hawes says both are doing well. She says Jace, who was born six weeks early, has some challenges, but the hope is he’ll lead a long, normal life.

RUSK — A recent increase in court cases involving children in Cherokee County leaves the local CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in need of even more volunteers. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children. Cherokee County CASA Director Lee Ann Millender tells KETK her agency is in crisis at the moment and really needs additional help looking at the cases.

TYLER — Oncor is on hand this week to answer questions from customers. According to KETK, numerous Tyler-area residents are concerned over skyrocketing electric bills. Some think the new “smart meters” are responsible, but Oncor says that’s not the case. There was an open house in Tyler yesterday. Another one is scheduled today from 1:00 till 8:00pm at the Rose Garden Center.

TYLER — State Representative Leo Berman’s health continues to improve, according to press materials from the Tyler Republican’s office. Spokespeople say Berman, who was hospitalized last week and diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, should be released from the hospital this week. According to a news release, “The Berman family was delighted to learn from Leo’s doctors that his cancer is not only treatable, but curable.” His medical team began chemotherapy treatment Monday, and it’s due to continue on an outpatient basis.

Berman said, “Although my cancer treatment has begun, I continue to coordinate my re-election campaign from the hospital. I am eagerly awaiting a final ruling on the redistricting maps, so the people of Texas can have a firm date for the primary election.”

Leo’s wife, Lou Ann Berman, commented on the outpouring of support from the community, “We want to thank everyone for their gestures of love and concern. We know God is answering prayers on Leo’s behalf–Leo is strong and positive. Please continue to pray for a full recovery!”

LONGVIEW — On Thursday, January 26, Longview Public Safety Communications completed the transition to a new Emergency CallWorx Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 System. Officials say this system provides the City of Longview with a true Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) solution that directly addresses many of the outstanding issues associated with aging communications technology. They say the upgrade in technology also allows for the eventual implementation of emerging 9-1-1 functionality such as improved (GIS-based) call routing, text to 9-1-1, the sending and receiving of picture and video messages, and email integration. According to authorities, the overall improvements in technology, reliability, and support will provide Longview Public Safety Communications with a current, expandable, and cost-effective emergency communications solution.

LUFKIN — Crime Stoppers of Lufkin wants your help bringing to close the seven-month-long investigation into the death of Melodie Fay Sexton, 26, of Groves, Texas. According to KETK, Melodie, “Puff” to family and friends, died Father`s Day 2011 in Lake Charmaine in Tyler County’s Ivanhoe community, about ten miles south of Woodville. At 12:59 p.m. on June 19, Tyler County Sheriff’s Office personnel received a missing person report from Melodie’s family; at that time, the family knew only that she had been missing for approximately twelve hours from the lake house where she and her three-year-old son were spending the weekend. Three hours later, family members found Melodie’s body in the lake, not far from the property’s dock.

While investigators have not uncovered evidence necessary to determine that criminal conduct led to Melodie’s death, Crime Stoppers officials say suspicions remain that it was not the result of an accident. Her family has from the beginning asserted that she was murdered pointing to abnormalities in her alleged actions prior to her death.

If you can provide any information concerning the death of Melodie Fay Sexton, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers of Lufkin at (936) 639-TIPS or use this link – https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=207&L=E&DSID=207&Memo=Crime%20of%20the%20Week:%201/30/2012%20-%20Melodie%20Fay%20Sexton — to submit an anonymous tip. You never have to give your name and Crime Stoppers may pay a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest related to this investigation.

MARSHALL — A person recently reported missing in Harrison County, Lalania Williams, has been located in Tyler. Authorities say she was located after she had been missing for approximately one week. According to KETK and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, she is reunited with her family, and they wish to extend their sincere thanks for the public assistance.

TYLER – Tyler police continue looking for the man who injured a woman in a Tyler robbery. It happened around 10:00 Sunday night at the east side parking garage at East Texas Medical Center. Shirley Steelman, 63, of Kilgore has been identified as the victim. She told officers she was leaving the parking garage, and as she neared the entrance a man threatened her with a gun and took her purse. He then knocked her to the ground, breaking her arm. The suspect then ran east bound from ETMC with the woman’s purse.

Police recovered the purse Monday morning a few blocks away from the hospital. The suspect is described as a black male, about 5’9’ and wearing dark clothing. Police released security footage of the suspect Monday afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP/Staff) — Two LeTourneau University graduates now living in Iowa are the parents of a boy weighing 13 pounds and 13 ounces – born without the aid of surgery. According to KETK, Asher Stewardson was born Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, measuring 23½ inches long. Fifteen months ago, his brother, Judah, arrived weighing 12 pounds and an ounce at birth. Mercy officials say only a tenth of 1 percent of all newborns weigh more than 11 pounds at birth.

The boys’ mother, Kendall Stewardson, endured six hours of labor without an epidural injection. She says she and her husband, Joshua, wanted to avoid cesarean delivery because that wouldn’t have been good for her or Asher. According to information from the university, both parents graduated from LeTourneau in 2008, he with a computer science degree and she with a degree in biology.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been injured after jumping out of the way of a train. Saturday morning shortly after 9:45, officers were dispatched to the area of Sabine and Ray Streets after receiving a call that a pedestrian had been hit by a train. When officers arrived, they found Donald Roy Brown, 52, of Longview in a ditch approximately 20 feet below the rail bridge.

Brown said he was attempting to cross the rail bridge with his bicycle when the train approached. Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza-Williams told the Longview News Journal that one of Union Pacific’s investigators spoke with Brown Monday and he said that the train didn’t hit him. He said he jumped as the train approached.

Officers say they determined Brown was intoxicated at the time of the accident. He was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

TYLER – State District Jack Skeen of Tyler has set Nate Anderson’s trial date for Next Monday. Anderson is accused of fatally shooting his 19-year-old sister, Amanda, inside the home they shared with their parents on September 15, 2010. Nate was certified to stand trial as an adult last June for the first degree felony. He faces up to life in prison.

TYLER — A Tyler man remains in serious condition after a motorcyccle wreck over the weekend. It happened around 6:25 Saturday night on the 5000 Block of Paluxy. Police say 63-year-old Robert Tolleson was following a group of bikers when his motorcycle hit a curb and wrecked. He was taken to ETMC with severe injuries. Officials said he was not wearing a helmet.

TYLER — East Texans gathered at Greater Saint Mary Baptist Church Sunday to honor local African American Veterans that served in the military during the 1940’s and 50’s. According to KETK, the event was organized by Dr. Rodney Atkins, who wrote a book about the black soldiers, and Dr. M.K. Mast, pastor at St. Mary. The featured speaker was Timothy Hancock, Mayor of Killeen, and military veteran. He thanked the men in attendance for opening a way for him to serve his country. Doctors Atkins and Mast plan to hold this event every year from now on, with each ceremony recognizing a different decade of black soldiers.

LONGVIEW — A wreck shortly after 7:30 Monday morning involved a Longview school bus. It happened at the intersection of Glenn Street and Libby Lane. There were children on the bus at the time when the wreck happened but no injuries were reported.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation has some good news to report on its annual campaign. With about a month remaining, the development board of 28 directors has raised $215,324. That’s less than $35,000 from the quarter-million-dollar goal. But money is still needed; you can go to http://www.tyler.sprnet.org/tisdfoundation to learn more. The TISD Foundation funds educational projects not typically supported by taxpayer dollars.

TYLER — Champions for Children is a Tyler agency that offers training and support to childcare workers, kids, and parents using play-based activities. On KTBB “Staff Meeting,” Executive Director MaryAnn Girard says a key need right now is volunteers who can pitch in as qualified trainers. She says if there are people out there who are qualified in any specialty areas that relate to child care, she’d be glad to talk to them. You can go to http://www.championsforchildren.org to learn more. And you can go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to hear the entire “Staff Meeting” show online.

LINDALE — A man from East Texas, who was a graduate of Lindale High School, was killed Thursday in an automobile accident while he was helping a stranded motorist in Orlando, Fla. Mark Adams, 28, graduated from Lindale High School in 2002 and was a motorcycle builder and mechanic for Motocross star James Stewart.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, a friend had run out of gas around 4:00am and called Adams for help, said FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes. Adams parked his truck behind the vehicle off the road when a SUV came off the roadway and hit Adams. The driver voluntarily offered a blood sample to troopers but officials do not think alcohol was a factor, Montes said.

Miranda Lambert has rescheduled her Friday concert in Tallahassee, Florida because of Adams’ death. A news release said Adams was a childhood friend of Lamberts. Lambert said in a tweet: “I have lost a friend I’ve had since 3rd grade today in a tragic accident. When will this pain end. Please pray for peace.” Lambert’s “On Fire” tour will now stop in Tallahassee on May 17.

Funeral services for Adams are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3, at 10:00 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Carrollton. A memorial service is pending for 2:00 that afternoon in Lindale, with interment following at the Lindale City Cemetery, Lindale.

MARSHALL — Jury selection begins Tuesday in a lawsuit alleging negligence by a Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. truck driver. Sheshank Gujjari, of India, is suing the company for more than $75,000 after he said he was injured Sept. 17, 2007, in a wreck on U.S. 259 involving a Pilgrim’s truck. Gujjari claims he suffered serious and permanently disabling injuries as a result of the wreck and is suing Pilgrim’s Pride for more than $75,000 in lost wages. He also is suing to cover the cost of his medical care. Jury selection begins Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Marshall. The trial is scheduled to end Thursday.

In October, Pilgrim’s was ordered to pay $26 million in damages for manipulating the price of chicken. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 90 chicken farmers in Arkansas after Pilgrim’s shut down a packing plant in El Dorado and refused to buy chickens from them.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are attributing a decline in homicides this past year to increased community patrols and officers taking a more active role in the community. Longview had four reported homicides in 2011. That was down from 10 in 2010; 11 in 2009; nine in 2008; five in 2007; 10 in 2006; and seven in 2005.

Here’s a look at the four homicides:

September 27: Police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Hutchings Boulevard, where the body of 31-year-old Orion Marcel Peoples was found. Authorities later arrested 18-year-old Troy Carnell Saddler of Longview in the death.

October 13: Officers were called to the 800 block of Travis Avenue in connection with shots fired. Victor Anthony, 34, of Longview was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. No arrests have been made in connection with Anthony’s shooting death.

March 7: Longview police were dispatched to the 100 block of East Melton Street after family members found 25-year-old Danielo Eugene Nelson dead with a gunshot wound. Dexter Levin Prince was arrested the following day, charged in connection with Nelson’s death.

The most recent death was December 8, when police were called to the 1600 block of Oden Street after a woman reported stabbing her husband after he hit her. Ray Dorphus Jacobs was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said the incident is being investigated, and no arrests have been made.

EAST TEXAS — News reports that pipeline builder TransCanada is exploring options toward laying the Texas leg of the 1,600-mile conduit for Canadian oil didn’t surprise the mayor of a small East Texas town fighting the project.

“Texas has already signed off on this thing,” Reklaw Mayor Harlan Crawford said Saturday, the day after Trans-Canada announced it was considering building the line from Cushing, Okla., to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Crawford’s assessment that the Texas leg remains possible matched that of Keystone XL Project Representative Jim Prescott. The TransCanada spokesman said Friday the company has all necessary Texas permits for the pipeline, which would move a thick crude oil form known as oil sands, or tar sands. The proposed line cuts through northeast Wood, southwest Upshur, east Smith and southwest Rusk counties. Crawford’s town of 266 is in the Rusk County corridor. According to the Longview News-Journal, Reklaw has banded with neighboring Gallatin, population 374, to form a regional planning commission under Texas’ Local Government Code. President Barrack Obama put the international portion of the project on ice pending an environmental study.

BOWIE COUNTY — Officials have identified a man fatally shot during a Thursday traffic stop in Bowie County. A Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden shot and killed Frank Anthony Shoen, 55, during a possible driving while intoxicated stop Bowie County Sheriff’s officials said Friday in a news release. Game Warden Shawn Hervey fired the fatal round while assisting a deputy and Liberty Eylau School District police officer during the stop on Cummings Lane southwest of Texarkana, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. During the stop, officials told Shoen to get on the ground with his face down. Schoen did not comply, the news release said. He then pulled out a gun and fired a round into the air. Schoen then lowered the weapon toward officers. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident.

HARRISON COUNTY — A former Harrison County sheriff’s deputy has been indicted on his third charge of sexual indecency with a child. Huey Edwards “Eddie” Nichols was arrested in September on two charges of sexual indecency with a child by contact. He was arrested again in December on a third sex indecency charge. According to the Longview News-Journal, in the latest case, Nichols is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl between January 2002 and March 2003. Authorities learned of the third accusation from a school counselor, who came forward with the information after Nichols and his wife were arrested in the other two cases.

The girl, who now is an adult, told police that Nichols touched her inappropriately when she was 15. Police said the girl met Nichols in 2002 after running away to a vacant house after a counseling session. Nichols was one of the responding officers to the scene and asked the girl’s grandmother if he could be her male role model, according to police documents.

The other two cases involve two girls, age 14 and 11, who also told a school counselor and authorities that Nichols touched them inappropriately. Nichols, who is also an ordained minister, was immediately fired from the sheriff’s office after the investigation in the first case. His wife, 33-year-old Sharon Nichols, was fired from her position as deputy county clerk a few days later. Huey Nichols worked at the sheriff’s office for three-and-a-half years. Before that, he worked as a Marshall police officer for 13 years. He also served as the police department’s chaplain.

LUFKIN — A Palestine man remained in a Tyler hospital Friday night after being struck by an SUV as he walked across Timberland Drive hours earlier. Jaime Lopez, 53, remained in critical condition in East Texas Medical Center’s ICU after being struck by a Chevy Tahoe traveling 30 to 40 mph. Lopez, had just delivered produce to Brookshire Brothers Friday morning before parking his rig at Towne Square Four Plaza at 400 N. Timberland Drive to walk across the highway to get something to eat when the accident occurred. Jonathan McGinty, 30, of Huntington told officers he didn’t see Lopez crossing the highway until it was too late. Officials said all of his injuries appeared to be internal. He was taken to Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin’s helipad and then flown to ETMC. The accident is under investigation by Lufkin Police.

MARSHALL — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public regarding the location of Lalania Rhodes-Williams. According to KETK, she is listed as a missing person and has not had any contact with the family since she left the residence of her brother in Scottsville, Texas, on Friday, January 20.

Ms. Williams is described as a black female, 40 years old, 5’5”, 180 lbs, shoulder length brown hair. She was last seen wearing gray pants, black blouse, and a light gray sweater. She may be driving a 2003 4-door Pontiac Grand Am with Texas license plates CR3D212, which is registered to her in Houston. The family believes she may be distraught and fearful, which may be why she suddenly left the residence with no additional clothing or personal items. If anyone has any information of the location of Lalania Rhodes-Williams, you’re asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 903-923-4000.

TYLER — Tyler police arrest four suspects in a late Friday morning robbery at the Conoco gas station, 2706 W. Gentry Parkway. Police say several suspects entered the store and assaulted the owner, who was working behind the counter, by striking him in the face with their fists. According to police, the suspects then grabbed several packs of cigarettes and ran out of the store. The owner suffered minor injuries. Officers flooded the area and were able to capture four suspects.

The suspects are identified as:
1) Steven Ray Sadler, 17, of Tyler, bond $505,000
2) Michael Avory Hayles, 17, of Tyler, bond $250,000
3) Prince Kentrell Hull, 18, of Tyler, bond $250,000
4) Jamon Nicholas Taylor, 17, of Tyler, bond $250,000

All four suspects have been charged with robbery, a 2nd degree felony, and Sadler was also charged with evading police. Tyler Police investigators believe that more suspects may have been involved in this incident and may file other charges upon completion of the investigation.

MANY, La. (AP) – Rainfall over the past two months has prompted the Sabine River Authority of Texas to change the drought stage of Toledo Bend Reservoir from moderate to mild. Voluntary water use reductions are still encouraged by reservoir officials. The Shreveport Times reports the reservoir reached a historic low of 159.42 feet Nov. 22. Almost weekly rainfall has steadily pushed up the level, which was measured at 162.92 feet Thursday morning. By comparison, the reservoir was at 164.27 this time a year ago. The level is expected to improve in the coming days as runoff from this week’s rainfall hits the tributaries that feed into Toledo Bend.

TYLER (AP/Staff) – Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham has moved to keep a four-legged member on his staff. Sophie is a 2-year-old full-blooded, yellow Labrador retriever. Bingham has put her on the job as a successor to Macy, who died of bone cancer last month at the age of two. Sherry Magness, who’s the county’s victims’ service director, says Sophie is trained to sit by the feet of children during their testimony. She tells KLTV-TV of Tyler that If the child becomes emotional, Sophie will lay her head on the child’s lap for comfort. However, Tyler criminal defense attorney Bobby Mims tells the station that he feels Sophie is used theatrically to appeal to jurors’ sympathies for the child.

MT. ENTERPRISE — The National Weather Service confirms Wednesday’s storms produced three tornadoes with winds reaching 85 miles per hour in the Mount Enteprise area, including one that touched down along Highway 315. That information was released Thursday.