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LONGVIEW — The annual Longview Christmas Parade will take place at 6:30 this evening. Several downtown streets will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 5:30 p.m. Barricades will be placed around an approximate eight-block staging area east of Gregg County Court House and the 300 block of E. Methvin Street. Access to the outdoor drive-through locations of Texas Bank and Trust will be permitted until 6 p.m. Drivers should use extra caution when driving near the parade route and staging area. Most downtown streets should re-open later that night.

To accommodate ongoing downtown Christmas at the Courthouse activities, some downtown streets will remain closed following the parade. Southbound Fredonia Street from Whaley to Methvin will be closed now through 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 12. In addition, all of Fredonia Street between Whaley and Methvin will be closed Friday and Saturday December 2 and 3, and Friday and Saturday December 9 and 10 between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. For information about the Christmas Parade or other Downtown Christmas events, please contact the Longview Chamber of Commerce at 903-237-4000. Click on http://longviewtexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/city-news/Christmas%20Parade%20Route.pdf to view the parade route.

TYLER — One of the big events of the season is nearly upon us. City of Tyler crews spent last week and the first part of this week decorating downtown with thousands of Christmas lights in time for the 26th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. It will be held today on the T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza following the Jaycees Christmas Parade scheduled for 6:00pm. The centerpiece of the ceremony, a 30-foot Leyland cypress donated by Jackie and Debbie Merket of Merket Christmas Tree Farm in Beckville, Texas, has been covered in more than 8,000 lights. The tree will be lit by four-year-old Will Butts and his sister, 15-month-old Ellie, who were named the 2012 Miracle Children, representing the Children’s Miracle Network at Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics.

LONGVIEW — Longview police arrest an alleged copper thief. On Monday, according to a police report, Officer Kerry Higginbotham noticed a suspicious vehicle in the woods in the 1600 Block of Osborne Street. When he got out of the car to investigate further he noticed a large amount of copper wire lying on the ground outside Happiness Hill Daycare. He could see a blue Jeep Cherokee in the woods and found more copper wire, and other tools used to remove copper wire, inside the Jeep.

While Officer Higginbotham was near the daycare he heard the Jeep start up. He ran after the Jeep, and the driver of the Jeep continued to flee from the scene. The driver turned onto a dead end street and began to back up attempting to continue to flee from the officer. Finally, police say, Officer Higginbotham was able to get the driver to stop the vehicle and he was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was identified as Harrell Edward Johnson, 42, of Gladewater. Johnson was charged with theft of material 50% copper and evading arrest in a motor vehicle.

TYLER – Police identify a vehicle-pedestrian accident victim as 64-year-old Gregory Burke of Tyler. According to reports, Burke was seriously injured Tuesday night when hit by a minivan on the Troup highway. The accident happened around 6:15 near the Wal-Mart store. Investigators say Burke had crossed three lanes of traffic before getting hit in the turning lane. Burke was crossing the roadway in mid-block heading towards Wal-Mart and was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on Troup Hwy. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center with possible life threatening injuries and was last listed in critical condition. The investigation into the accident continues.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — A truck driver has been flown to a Tyler Hospital after he was pinned under an overturned vehicle on Farm Road 2274. According to Cherokee County DPS, a wrecker was towing an old bus loaded with junk metal when the bus overturned. The man became pinned under the bus during the wreck and crews had to cut him out. His condition is unknown.

WOOD COUNTY — A late Tuesday night mobile home fire has claimed the life of a 7-year-old girl in Wood County. Jazmine Henson died in the fire that injured four family members, including a 2-year-old boy, and sent one firefighter to the hospital. Officials were called at about 11:15 p.m. to a reported fire on CR 4536 in Winnsboro. The mobile home was engulfed in flames when emergency personnel arrived.

Justin Hammond, Linda Henson, Belinda Henson and a 2-year-old boy were transported by helicopter to Parkland Burn Hospital in Dallas. A Perryman firefighter fell and was injured while battling the blaze and was transported to an area hospital for neck and back injuries. Family members tried to rescue Jazmine from the mobile home but were unsuccessful. Her body was sent to Dallas County for an autopsy. The fire is under investigation.

WEST TAWAKONI – A founding member of the Scorpions Motorcycle Club has died in a weekend fire in Hunt County. The Saturday night fire at West Tawakoni has killed John “Little John” Reiding, 71. His body has been sent to Dallas for autopsy. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

TYLER – Someone has made a generous donation to the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive in Tyler. Monday, someone dropped a 1/2 troy ounce American Gold Eagle bullion coin into the red kettle at the FRESH by Brookshire’s on the Old Jacksonville Highway. According to Wayne Clepper with Tyler’s American Gold and Diamond Exchange, the coin is valued at around $900.

ARP — Smith County officials found a cache of weapons and meth in a raid early Tuesday morning in the Arp area. According to KETK, deputies seized 47 weapons, 28 grams of meth, 5 televisions and $5,000 from a residence in the 10,000 block of County Road 3197. Authorities arrested 61-year old John Wendall Bayless and 54-year old Tina Ray Bayless. Sheriff J.B. Smith says the department believes that the weapons and money were traded for drugs. The investigation took about 8 months to complete.

TYLER — Tyler Republican Leo Berman files for reelection as the District 6 State House representative. Berman cited what he termed his strong conservative record over 13 years and said his constituents know where he stands. Opponent Matt Schaefer has told media he’s challenging Berman to a debate. Berman said he hadn’t heard anything about debates at all. But he added that he will participate in candidate forums established by the Republican Women’s club and the Republican Club of Smith County.

TYLER— A defendant in a 2005 Smith County murder has pleaded guilty in an appearance before State District Judge Jack Skeen. Bryante Denard Gee, 28, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Gee and Terrance Wideman were accused of killing Christopher Horn, 19, at Kureshe’s Mart in 2005. Their alleged involvement in the cold case was brought to light after a Broadway Square Mall parking lot shooting over six months ago.

LONGVIEW — Longview police release information on a Thanksgiving weekend drug bust. On Friday, officers made a routine traffic stop on a vehicle that allegedly displayed an expired inspection sticker in the 400 block of Edgefield Avenue. During the stop officers determined that the truck’s occupants’ stories conflicted. During a search of the subjects, officers located suspected methamphetamine on one of the suspects, identified as Howard Perkins, 48, of Kilgore. The other suspect, Clifton Ardry, 47, of Kilgore, was arrested on 3 outstanding Gregg County warrants.

As a result of the arrest officers say they were able to gain information of other narcotic activity and contacted the County Organized Drug Enforcement (CODE) Unit and obtained a search warrant for a home also in the 400 block of Edgefield Avenue. The search warrant was served to the residents of the house, and officers located suspected cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and various drug paraphernalia. Three suspects were arrested from the location. Those arrested include George Clifford Griffis, 54; Regena Avila, 43, and Kimberly Dawn Gill, 47, all of Longview.

LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man convicted of improper photography at a Longview retailer is on the run from his two-year state jail sentence. In September 2010, a Gregg County jury sentenced Mark Allen Reed, 31, to the maximum prison term after convicting him of placing a cell phone, operating in video mode, underneath a woman’s skirt at Hastings on Loop 281 in August 2009. Allen appealed the verdict and was released from the Gregg County Jail on $20,000 a year ago. Reed failed to turn himself in to authorities.

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center Tyler celebrated its 24th annual Christmas tree lighting last night with former trauma patient and Whitehouse High School athletic director and head football coach Randy McFarlin lighting the tree.

McFarlin was injured November 28, 2010, when a pickup truck slammed into his vehicle seven miles east of Gilmer. McFarlin swerved to avoid the accident, but the truck hit the driver’s side door, trapping him inside. Once he was freed from the vehicle, McFarlin was flown by Air 1 to ETMC Tyler’s Level 1 Trauma Center in critical condition with internal injuries, fractured ribs and a fractured pelvis. He remained in intensive care for over a month, and this January he was moved to ETMC’s Rehabilitation Center. His wife Carolyn, son Craig and Craig’s now wife, Missy, were also injured, but were treated and released.

This will is the second year for ETMC to use its living Christmas tree, which was planted as part of the city of Tyler’s tree conservation program. The tree is located on the front lawn of the hospital and has grown several feet since last year.

LONGVIEW — A former Longview ISD teacher and UIL coach, charged with sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, is out of jail on bond. Robert Craig Varnell of Diana was released from the Gregg County Jail on bond November 14. According to court documents, a 16-year-old boy told authorities Varnell had inappropriate physical contact with him numerous times from August 31, 2007, to May 3, both at Varnell’s home and the boy’s home.

The improper relationship reportedly started when the boy was 13 and Varnell was employed by LeTourneau University’s computer science department, according to court records. At the time of his arrest, Varnell was a teacher and co-UIL coordinator at Longview High School. He resigned following his arrest.

LONGVIEW – A convicted murderer goes on trial in Longview on aggravated kidnapping charges. A jury has been selected to hear the case against Anthony Marquis Shepherd, 50. He is accused of abducting a woman in Gregg County in June with the intent to sexually assault or abuse her. A couple of months later, he was arrested by authorities in West Virginia.

LONGVIEW – A fire in a storage building behind a Longview day care forced the evacuation of nearly 30 children. The fire was reported around 4:00 Monday afternoon behind Garrett’s TLC Learn Center in the 1600 block of Mobberly Avenue. As the fire grew it broke out a back window of the day care center. That was when the smoke alarm sounded and the staff was able to get the youngsters safely from the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

JACKSONVILLE — East Texas pharmacist and Republican State Representative Chuck Hopson formally filed his candidacy papers Monday at the Texas Republican Party Headquarters. The Jacksonville native currently represents District 11 which now includes Cherokee, Nacogdoches and Rusk Counties.

This past legislative session, Rep. Hopson served as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, the House Republican Caucus and Leadership Team as well as Chairman of the House Investigating and Ethics Committee. A fourth generation Texan and local pharmacist, Rep. Hopson has also served on his local School Board and City Council.

According to Representative Hopson, “This election is about real conservative results, not just campaign rhetoric. I have fought for the conservative values of East Texas, and I promise to continue achieving real results for District 11.

LONGVIEW — Good Shepherd Medical Center has announced the appointment of Ralph Holcomb as their new Chief Information Officer. Holcomb joined the hospital in October with 18 years of information systems administration experience. He moved to Longview from Rockwall.

“Good Shepherd is excited to bring aboard a CIO with such an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience. His skills will be invaluable as we continue to upgrade our systems with recent technological advancements such as computerized physician order entry,” said Ed Banos, President and CEO.

Most recently Holcomb served as the Director of Information Services with Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital located in Dallas. With Baylor, Holcomb led a team in maintaining the hospital systems in order to support exceptional patient care.

Throughout his career in Information Systems, Holcomb as served as Lead Network Engineer, Project Manager and Director of Information Systems supporting clinical areas such as radiology, pharmacy, laboratory and operating rooms. Under his leadership, he developed monitoring systems and procedures, brought in new business lines, trained and supervised staff as well as lead the implementation of dozens of applications.

Holcomb received his master of science in healthcare administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and his bachelor of science in computer information systems from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He also served in the United States Army where he received the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

LONGVIEW — Good Shepherd Health System announces the addition of T. John Ward to Good Shepherd Health System’s Board of Directors. Ward joins the board as part of career which has already spanned over 40 years in the legal and judiciary system.

Most recently in October of 2011, Ward retired after a 12 year career as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas. Ward currently practices law in Longview’s own Ward & Smith Law Firm. Prior to his career as a federal judge Ward spent 31 years as an active trial lawyer, including admission to practice in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

KILGORE — Twenty-six students will graduate tonight from the Kilgore College Fire Academy No. 81. The ceremony is set for 6:30pm in the Bert E. Woodruff Adult Education Center Auditorium in Kilgore.

The KC Fire Academy is accredited by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the State Firemen and Fire Marshal’s Association and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The academy offers certification schools for NFPA 1001 Basic Structural Firefighter I and II certification, the Texas Volunteer certification, Fire Inspector and Fire and Arson Investigation courses. It is also a designated institution by the Canadian Province of British Columbia.

The following candidates, listed by hometown, are part of KC Fire Academy No. 81:
Abbotsford B.C., Canada: Steven Ahuja
Arp: Zachary Howard
Austin: Charles Otis January
Beckville: Nolan Robert Hodges and Carlos Dominick Taylor
Campbell River B.C., Canada: Benjamin Charlton and Mark K. Wolsey
Carthage: Rodger David Kyle
Cleburne: Wesley Ryan Muncy
Driftwood: Kathryn L. Jones
Hallsville: Blake Allen Barker
Hughes Springs: Christopher Aaron Cates and Christopher William Wallace
Kerrville: Patrick Prout
Kilgore: Clint Ruthven
Longview: Christopher Jackson
Merritt B.C., Canada: Taylor Allan Lamb
North Vancouver B.C., Canada: Eric Aime Picher
Palestine: Rhion Bradley M. Jordan
Qualicum Beach B.C., Canada: Kevin David Board
Salado: Brandon Allan Russ
Terrace B.C., Canada: Ryan John Fuzi
Vancouver B.C., Canada: Christopher Joseph Pow
Victoria B.C., Canada: Alexander Jason Gray and Justin Patrick Kelly
Wake Village: Roger David Kyle

TYLER — The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mother Frances Hospital marked its third anniversary Monday with visits from children who received treatment there in the past year. The NICU, the first of its kind in East Texas, is equipped to care for babies born as early as 28 weeks or weighing as little as 2.2 pounds. It also takes care of full-term babies with breathing difficulties, infections, and other health conditions. Celebrations like the one held Monday are put on each year by the NICU.

NICU Medical Director Dr. Brenda Morris says, “It’s always a blessing for our staff to see these children come back to us and to see how much they’ve progressed. Since the opening, we have admitted over 1,200 infants with an average length of stay of 12 days.” Morris says among the best things about the annual celebrations are the thank-yous she and her staff get from the parents — who would likely have had to take their newborns as far as Dallas before the Mother Frances NICU opened. Morris points out that it’s a big help if parents can be close by, with breastfeeding access being a significant consideration. She adds, “13 per cent of Smith County newborns are premature, and nearly 10 percent of all newborns require the medical expertise only available in a NICU.”

OVERTON — Although welcome, the rain came too late for drought-hammered summer pastures. East Texas Agrilife Extension Forage Specialist Vanessa Corriher says it’s just a matter of timing. She says, “Most of those forages are warm-season perennials, are going into dormancy as we start to get into cooler temperatures. So most of those forages, we’re really not gonna see them ‘recover’ until the spring, as they come back out of dormancy.” Some producers were holding off planting because of lack of moisture, but Corriher says it’s a bit too late to plant now. She says for many of those producers who planted winter pastures earlier, the rains came just in time.

EAST TEXAS — The East Texas wildfires killed 30,000 acres of trees, but many of those are being converted to commercial timber. Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples says about one-third of those killed by the wildfires are now being harvested. According to Staples, “That translates into about 12 million cubic feet of timber that can be salvaged. That’s enough timber to build about 7,000 average-sized homes.” About $110 million worth of consumer goods will be made with that lumber.

TYLER — Rising food prices take their toll on everyone — including local food banks trying to feed the needy. Peanut butter is a prime example. The East Texas Food Bank’s Karolyn Davis tells KETK there was an approximate $2-per-case increase in the price of peanut butter the last time the food bank bought it. Davis says that’s significant because peanut butter is a key item for her agency. Some food banks are now taking a harder look at less-expensive canned tuna as an alternative if prices keep going up.

LONGVIEW – State Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) Monday filed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives, District 7. Simpson says hundreds of grassroots supporters have already contributed to his re-election campaign since the end of the legislative session this past summer. “I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received after returning from the legislative session,” said Rep. Simpson. “Our state’s rich resources and courageous heritage of individual freedom and responsibility have made Texas great and unique. With the blessing of the people and Providence, I will continue to work to restore civil government to its proper, limited role; to defend the Constitution; and to protect the interests of East Texans.”

HARRISON COUNTY — Authorities say a man is on the run after dousing two people with acid in Harrison County. According to KETK, 911 operators got call at 1:37 Monday morning regarding an injured person and an assault that had just occurred at 4271 Driskell Bridge Rd. in the northwest area of the county. Upon deputies’ arrival, they were met by ambulance personnel and found 2 people had been assaulted and were being treated for chemical burns on their face and body. They were both splashed around their face and chest area with a chemical drain cleaner that is an acid-based product during the assault.

Authorities say the incident began with the suspect, Galen Wallace, 39, walking through the residence on Driskell Bridge Rd. with a bottle of acid, making angry remarks about the victims, and saying that the drain cleaner could cause a lot of damage to a person. He then allegedly went to the bedroom where the victims were and began throwing the liquid onto the bed and the victims. The victims are identified as Brittany Brice, 24, and Donald Salley, 21. Both victims were transported to LSU Medical Center for further treatment.

As deputies were interviewing the victims and witness, it was learned that the suspect had reportedly fled the residence and had taken his 3 year old son, Christian, with him. Authorities say he fled into a wooded area behind the residence, and deputies, with the assistance of K-9 operations, attempted to find the suspect throughout the early morning hours. Authorities say at approximately 9:00 a.m., the suspect went to a relative’s residence, dropped off the child, and then left on foot. The suspect is being sought in connection with the assault. The 3-year-old child is with other family members.

TYLER — Tyler Police, Fire and EMS responded to a single vehicle crash into some gas pumps that occurred on Sunday around 2:33 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Gentry Parkway. The driver, identified as Christopher Combs, age 26, of Lindale, was eastbound on West Gentry and stated that he had fallen asleep, losing control of his 2006 Ford pickup. Combs drove off the roadway into the Exxon Station located at 1204 W. Gentry striking several gas pumps and causing significant structural damage to the building. Combs was transported to ETMC by EMS for treatment of injuries. Tyler Fire Department Haz-Mat responded to the scene to control the gas leakage in the parking lot. There was no report of any fire that occurred from the crash.

TYLER — Candidates begin filing for office as the 2012 election cycle gets under way. Republican Matt Schaefer, Tyler, officially filed Monday afternoon for a place on the ballot for Texas House of Representatives, District 6, currently held by Leo Berman, Tyler. Schaefer said he has obtained over 500 signatures from registered voters in the district. He said one of the issues that top his priority list is the “exploding cost” of health care in the form of Medicaid and what that’s doing to the state budget. He said that alone is putting a lot of pressure on education funding.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County fire officials say a wreck has been cleared in the western part of the county. Earlier, an 18-wheeler was blocking FM 2661, between Hwy. 31 West and Highway 64. Officials say the rig was jack-knifed about a half mile off 31. Officials on scene tell KETK the trailer separated from the cab of the 18-wheeler, when the driver was attempting to turn around on FM 2661. The driver of the truck has been taken to the hospital with minor injuries.