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LONGVIEW — Longview Police have arrested four people in connection with an Arkansas homicide. Fantasia Williams, 25, of Longview and Jeremy M. Walker, 24, Courtney McClain, 24,(pictured) and Kimo McClain, 21, all residents of Lonoke, Arkansas, are in Gregg County Sheriff’s custody awaiting extradition. Lonoke Police Chief, Mike Wilson, said Walker was arrested for second degree murder and terrorist acts, while the McClain brothers and Williams, Kimo McClain’s girlfriend, were arrested for hiding Walker in Longview, where Williams lives. A tip led to the arrests on Friday. Walter Jones, 28, was shot in the head and killed in Lonoke September 18th. A witness reported Courtney McClain walking with a gunshot wound to the arm.

HARRISON COUNTY — Hallsville ISD and a Hallsville police officer are investigating a junior high school coach and teacher whom a parent says pushed her son to the ground, busted his lip and choked him. “Safety and security of all Hallsville students, at all times, is a primary concern in this district,” Hallsville ISD spokeswoman Carol Greer said. “We’re aware of this situation and are currently in the process of conducting an internal investigation.”

Though Hallsville ISD officials have said they do not believe there was “malicious intent” involved in the incident and the coach was apologetic, mother Diana Adkins said Friday she won’t stop fighting for justice for what happened to her son. Adkins said Hallsville Junior High School U.S. history teacher and coach Ken Wall pushed her son, 13-year-old Blake Adkins, backward to the ground during a practice Sept. 16 in which the coach and team were “horseplaying.” Wall then injured Blake’s mouth, placed his forearm on Blake’s neck causing him to choke and yelled at him, according to Diana Adkins.

LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man is free on bond after being charged with stealing DVDs from a Longview store. Rickey Bernard Gunter, 47, was charged with theft of property less than $1,500 with two or more convictions. Bond was set at $2,500. Police said Gunter was arrested at Dollar General Store in the 2300 block of Judson Road shortly before 10:00 Thursday morning after stealing two DVDs, valued at $16. Gunter had five prior convictions for theft, police said.

JACKSONVILLE — District 11 State Representative Chuck Hopson announces his bid for re-election. Hopson is based in Jacksonville. According to current redistricting maps, Hopson will represent Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Rusk Counties; he will no longer represent Houston and Panola Counties. Hopson, a Republican, says, “My top three priorities have always been our children, our community, and our conservative values.”

GILMER — A visiting judge on Friday denied a motion to dismiss and quash an indictment against Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Judge Richard Davis ruled that Fowler’s charge of official oppression will go to trial in Wood County on Oct. 11. A prosecutorial misconduct charge filed by Fowler’s lawyers against District Attorney Billy Byrd remains on the table, as well as a motion to dismiss a charge of abuse of official capacity against Fowler.

LONGVIEW — Some Upshur County Republicans believe already-indicted party Chairman Ken Ambrose could face official misconduct charges related to the upcoming primary election. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report that Republican Madaline Barber has been accepting candidate applications, acting as the party’s secretary. Barber said she is the duly-elected Republican Party Upshur County secretary. Ambrose said she is not, and that any applications accepted by her might not be valid. Ambrose has filed a complaint against Barber with the Texas Ethics Commission saying Barber is misrepresenting herself.

“Be advised that your failure to post my notice to accept candidate applications on the Upshur County Commissioner’s Court bulletin board opens you up to potential official misconduct charge(s),” Barber wrote in a letter to Ambrose, which she also provided to the News-Journal. “Furthermore, your failure to accept any applications I have received will prompt an immediate district court action against you under the new ‘Loser Pays’ law adopted by the 82nd Texas Legislature.”

Ambrose already faces charges of theft of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000 and misappropriation of fiduciary property related to using the Republican Party’s primary funds to pay for an attorney. His trial is slated to start Oct. 3 in Upshur County’s 115th District Court.

NORTHEAST TEXAS — As resources continue to demobilize, a smaller contingent of firefighters will remain in northeast Texas to monitor and mop up a number of fires as needed. The Texas Forest Service says these include the Magnolia Complex, Bear Creek, Rhonesboro, Dodson, Bowles, Johnson, Gethsemane, Angelina River Bottom, Marietta, Diana and Marshall fires — and numerous smaller fires scattered across a wide expanse. Mop up activities are expected to take several days to complete. Resources remaining include 23 engines, four 20-person hand crews, one dozer and two water tenders and three helicopters.

Officials point to cooler, breezy conditions that moved into the picture Friday. “With the fuels still extremely dry, if we get a new start, it could grow quickly. We are encouraging firefighters to be alert for rapidly changing situations and the ongoing potential for very active fire behavior,” said Incident Commander Mike Morcom. Dead and live vegetation remains dangerously dry; the public is asked to continue to use extreme caution and remember county burn bans remain in effect.

The Texas Forest Service and the local Volunteer Fire Departments are asking the public to continue to work on defensible space around their homes and property to lower risk in their community from wildfire. They suggest you take responsibility for the safety of your family and animals, and develop your evacuation plan. You can go to http://www.wildlandFireRSG.org and http://www.firewise.org for additional information on defensible space and evacuation preparedness.

Disaster Assistance and Donations

The Red Cross has arranged for local charities to access the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN) system for those needing disaster assistance. Through CAN, caseworkers have access to secure client information providing collaboration and ease of referral between agencies. Call 800-RED-CROSS for additional information.
Officials ask that you contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for a list of agencies that are currently accepting donations.

Recovery for Displaced Livestock Winding Down

Texas Animal Health Service, AgriLIFE Marion and Cass County Extension Service offices and the Texas Department of Agriculture is phasing out of recovery operations for livestock. Contact Eddie Hayes at 903-277-3979 for additional information. For small animal recovery, contact Caroline Weddings 903-790-9012 at the Marion County Humane Society.

LONGVIEW — Permitted alcohol use at Heritage Plaza was approved Thursday. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, City Council members voted 5-1 to allow alcohol sales and consumption at the downtown park. In another move, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members will begin a months-long process Monday to set criteria for all Longview parks, after one resident suggested expanding alcohol use to Teague Park.

Don’t take a six-pack to the Heritage Plaza brown bag lunch series just yet. Organizers of the series and any event wishing to serve alcoholic beverages must obtain permits from the city and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The Longview Chamber of Commerce and the Main Street Advisory Board recommended the idea of Heritage Plaza alcohol sales to parks advisory board members two months ago. On Aug. 22, the parks board unanimously recommended the ordinance change to the City Council.

TYLER — A heated meeting Thursday night in Tyler. KETK reports the debate comes during the worst wildfire season East Texas has ever seen. Awhile back, the Smith County Emergency Services District no. 2 board decided to cut property taxes. Since then, firefighters have been fighting for cash. The meeting featured testy exchanges between firefighters and the ESD Board. One involved the Flint-Gresham Fire Department, which claims it doesn’t even have the proper wild-land gear to fight wildfires.

Another heated moment came when the board tabled a fuel reimbursement request by Jackson Heights. The reason? Members from Jackson Heights couldn’t come to the meeting because they were fighting a fire. The board questioned why the fuel bill was 5 times more expensive than in previous months. Firefighters protested that Jackson Heights has seen the worst of the East Texas fires. Soon before the meeting ended, Jackson Heights firefighters returned from the blaze they’d been battling. The board tried to adjourn, but the firefighters objected. Jackson heights explained its fuel request and finally got its reimbursement.

KETK did speak with board member Sharon Guthrie, who said the board is there to make sure taxpayers’ money is spent wisely. In press materials issued earlier, Guthrie said the board has over $1.3 million in reserve for necessary or emergency expenditures. She claimed there is absolutely no danger of running out of tax funds to fight fires. Guthrie added that the board appreciates and values the work the firefighters are doing.

DALLAS — An investigation into a fatal stabbing of a former Jacksonville resident is underway. Jacksonville native Shearl Bennett was fatally stabbed after attending a church service at Pilgrim’s West Baptist Church in Dallas on Wednesday night. Bennett, 50, had driven home from the service and was walking toward her condominium from her vehicle when the attacker struck. A neighbor said Bennett crawled to an area near her door before she died. Officers responded to calls before 10:30 p.m. Investigators said they did not believe Bennett knew the attackers. Bennett’s purse was not located near the body.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Zavalla man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly showing a homemade sex tape to a 6-year-old girl. Matthew Fuller, 31 was taken into custody Wednesday on state jail felony endangering a child, according to an arrest affidavit. The child’s mother contacted the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office to report Fuller on Aug. 29. The same day, the child told her mother Fuller asked her sit in his lap and then showed her a video on the computer of a sexual act. After he made her watch it, the girl said Fuller then told her to go play and closed out of the video, according to the affidavit. In a forensic interview with Harold’s House, the girl told the same story of what happened and described a homemade sex video featuring people she knows.

According the affidavit, he put the girl in imminent danger of mental impairment by showing her the video. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail Wednesday and released the same day on a $5,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to two years in state jail, served day for day.

LUFKIN – An Angelina County man has been arrested after he allegedly showed a six year old girl a homemade sex tape. Currently free on a $5,000 bond is Matthew Fuller, 31,of Zavalla. He has been charged with endangering a child, a state jail felony. The girl told authorities Fuller asked her sit in his lap and then showed her a video on the computer of a sexual act, which featured people she knew.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the possibility of another government funding showdown on the table, East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is wasting no time ensuring that military pay will not be used as a bargaining chip. And KETK reports he’s taking on his own party to do so. Gohmert has introduced a bill to avoid a repeat of the shutdown debate last spring. That was when GOP leaders portrayed approval of a massive funding bill as a vote for or against U.S. troops. Gohmert says the military ought to be off the table.

TYLER — Officials say it’s a great way to kick off Tyler Junior College’s 85th anniversary year. According to press materials, total fall enrollment at TJC is at an all-time high, thanks to a special 12-week session added to meet student demand. As of Tuesday, enrollment for all fall courses was 12,062, TJC President Dr. Mike Metke reported. In Fall 2010, the College reported an enrollment of 11,738. The increase is roughly 2.7 percent, with all fall terms reported.

“Our course offerings continue to be in great demand, even to the extent that we were unable to accommodate every student for the regular fall semester,” Dr. Metke said. “With the establishment of the additional 12-week term, we were able to accommodate most, if not all, of the students who wish to be enrolled at TJC this fall.”

TYLER – A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for health care fraud violations. Nicodemus Udofia, 51, pleaded guilty in May to health care fraud and illegal remunerations charges. He was sentenced Thursday in Tyler to 12 months and one day in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Udofia was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,994.53 to the Medicare program and forfeiture of the proceeds of the fraud scheme.

According to federal authorities, from 2006 to 2008, Udofia, the owner of a medical equipment business in Tyler, submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medical equipment and supplies which were not provided to beneficiaries. As a result of these claims, Udofia unlawfully obtained more than $50,000 from Medicare and Medicaid. Udofia also offered to pay illegal remunerations, or cash kickbacks, in exchange for patient information that he could use to submit claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Udofia was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of last year.

TYLER – After a four year investigation, a Cherokee County licensed deer breeder has been sentenced for illegally transporting wildlife in East Texas and then lying about it to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent. Billy Powell,77, pleaded guilty in June to the felony offense of smuggling at least 37 whitetail deer, over a 3 year time span, from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio into Texas in violation of state and federal laws. Powell also admitted that he made a false statement and submitted a false document to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent who was looking into the matter.

Thursday in Tyler, Powell was sentenced to serve 3 years probation with six months home confinement to be monitored with an electric anklet. Powell was also ordered to pay a $1 million fine, to be deposited into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Lacy Act Reward Fund, as well as $500,000 in restitution to Texas Parks and Wildlife. During the term of probation, Powell will be prohibited from participating in any manner in commercial deer breeding. Additionally, Powell must forfeit any illegally imported deer, any progeny of those deer, and any biological material derived from said deer, which would include any semen, antlers, mounts, and cloned deer. Powell has already forfeited over 1,300 straws of frozen semen valued at approximately $961,500 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife

PALESTINE — Officials say a worker’s injuries are non-life-threatening after a bridge collapsed Wednesday in Palestine. It happened on North Loop 256 near East Lacy. Injured was Jose Luis Alva. He is said to have driven machinery on the bridge and started jack hammering the concrete. Within seconds, the bridge collapsed, and Alva and the machinery fell with the collapsed bridge. Alva was eventually extracted from the machinery, and was checked out by EMS.

SMITH COUNTY — Several Smith County fire departments battle a fire that destroyed a mobile home Wednesday afternoon. It happened on the 100 block of Patton Lane near Highway 64 West. The homeowner told KETK he saw flames coming out of the refrigerator, so he tried to put the blaze out with a water hose. But that didn’t help at all, and then the whole house started to burn down. The man’s pet cat was also lost. No word on any injuries, and still no word on exactly what caused the fire.

QUITMAN – A Wood County arson suspect has surrendered to authorities. James Henson, 41, of Winnsboro, turned himself in Wednesday morning in connection with a fire at a home last Friday. The home was in the 300 block of County Road 4400 near Winnsboro. It was destroyed by the fire. Witnesses say that Henson, who had been acting strange, took a torch and set the home afire. No injuries were reported.

EAST TEXAS – Over the past ten months, wildfires in East Texas have taken quite a toll. The Texas Forest Service has reported over 2,000 wildfires scorched over 200,000 acres. The dollar value of the timber that was lost has reached $97 million. The volume of timber lost in the East Texas fires would have produced $1.6 billion worth of products like homes, furniture and paper. The Texas Forest Service says the ultimate loss to the East Texas economy is $3.4 billion.

NACOGDOCHES – A man accused of raping a woman last week has been arrested in Nacogdoches County. Taken into custody early Wednesday morning was Travis Austin Bailey, 25. He has been charged with sexual assault and remained in the Nacogdoches County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Authorities say Bailey knew the woman and assaulted her in her own home.

HUNTSVILLE (AP) — Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs has been moved to an East Texas prison, where he will receive further treatment after becoming sick while fasting. Texas prison system spokesman Jason Clark said Wednesday that Jeffs has been moved to the infirmary of the Beto Unit prison in Tennessee Colony, northwest of Palestine. Clark said Jeffs will receive treatment there until he’s well enough to be moved back to the nearby Powledge Unit. Jeffs was discharged Monday night from the state prison hospital in Galveston. The head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was sentenced to life imprisonment last month after prosecutors used DNA evidence to show he fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl prosecutors say he took as one of his spiritual wives.

HUNTSVILLE (AP) – Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs has been moved to an East Texas prison, where he will receive further treatment after becoming sick while fasting. Texas prison system spokesman Jason Clark said Wednesday that Jeffs has been moved to the infirmary of the Beto Unit prison in Tennessee Colony. Clark said Jeffs will receive treatment there until he’s well enough to be moved back to the nearby Powledge Unit. Jeffs was discharged Monday night from the state prison hospital in Galveston. The head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was sentenced to life imprisonment last month after prosecutors used DNA evidence to show he fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl prosecutors say he took as one of his spiritual wives.

TYLER — Tyler ISD is wrapping up a series of public meetings on the long range plan it’s been developing. The meetings began September 13; the final get-together is at 6:00 tonight at Jack Elementary. Superintendent Randy Reid encourages everyone to come out and offer feedback on the plan.

“We are expecting our student population to grow by over 2,500 students by the year 2020,” said Reid. “Our long range plan will prepare us for this growth.” The long range plan presentations offer alternatives related to the renovation and repurposing of existing Tyler ISD properties, as well as the construction of new buildings. Members of the community who attend the public meetings are invited to complete a brief survey providing their feedback on the various alternatives.

Those who are not able to attend a long range plan presentation go to http://www.tylerisd.org to view a video of the presentation and complete the survey online. All information is posted in both English and Spanish. Both versions of the presentation will also be shown on TISD Channel 19. “As a district, we want to seek the input of the community to ensure our plan meets or exceeds their expectations,” Reid stated. Tyler ISD plans to gather all feedback by Friday, September 30.

TYLER — The 96th annual East Texas State Fair comes to Tyler today and continues through Sunday, October 2nd. The fair features a carnival, exhibits, lots of food, and activities such as swine races and swimming pigs, sand creations, wood creations, a petting zoo — and you can even ride a camel or a pony. Entertainment will be provided by Otis and the Metro Band, The Matthew Davidson Band, JBand the Moonshine Band, Cody Canada and the Departed and much more. You can go to http://www.etstatefair.com/fun.htm and get more details on the activities as well as hours and ticket information.

TYLER – Two Palestine men have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Derrick Leon Barrett, 41, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Barrett was also ordered to forfeit $10,000. Jerryl Cornelius Mims, 38, also pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison Wednesday by Judge Davis. Mims was also ordered to forfeit $1,000.

According to information presented in court, up until April 2010, Barrett and Mims conspired with others to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine throughout the East Texas area. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in January and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

BEAUMONT — A 51-year-old Longview man has been indicted on charges of child pornography violations in East Texas. Mitchell Duane Porter was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday and charged with production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. According to the indictment, in March, a forensic analysis of Porter’s personal computers revealed images of child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

MANGUM, Okla. (AP) – The jury has reached a guilty verdict in the trial of a former Oklahoma prison warden’s wife charged with helping an inmate escape. The jury returned earlier Wednesday to the Greer County Courthouse for deliberations after visiting the prison from which she and the inmate disappeared in 1994. The jury spent about 15 minutes Wednesday morning at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite where the group looked at the area around the home where Bobbi Parker lived with her family on the prison grounds. Prosecutors said Parker fell in love with Dial while working with him in a prison pottery program and helped him escape in August 1994. Defense attorneys said Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until they were found at a chicken ranch in Campti, Texas, in 2005.

MANGUM, Okla. (AP) – The wife of a former prison warden has been convicted of helping an inmate escape and running off with him to start a new life together. A Greer County, Oklahoma, jury determined that 49-year-old Bobbi Parker helped convicted killer Randolph Franklin Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. The two were found living together in Shelby County, Texas, in 2005. Prosecutors contended that Parker and Dial fell in love after meeting in a pottery program held at the Parkers’ home on prison grounds. Parker’s husband was a deputy warden at the prison. Parker and Dial maintained that he kidnapped her and used threats to keep her from seeking help. Dial died in 2007. Parker and her husband remain a couple. The jury recommended one year in prison.

LONGVIEW — Two men were arrested Tuesday night on Interstate 20 near Longview after troopers said they threw bricks of marijuana and prescription pills out of their moving vehicle while fleeing authorities. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Sirwelton Hobbs, 28, of Alexandria, La., and Kevin Anthony Gills, 30, of Orland Park, Ill., remained jailed on drug and tampering with evidence charges.

According to Department Public Safety officials, Hobbs was driving about 120 mph when troopers attempted to perform a traffic stop and he fled. “While evading arrest, the driver and passenger discarded a large quantity of Xanax pills by throwing them out of the windows of the vehicle,” trooper Jacob Muehlstein said in an arrest report. “After discarding the pills, the occupants began throwing bricks of marijuana out of the window also.”

Muehlstein said while the two were discarding marijuana from the moving vehicle, one of the bricks hit his patrol car and a nearby tractor trailer. Authorities said Hobbs pulled over near Eastman Road after a 12-mile pursuit. Muehlstein said the suspects were arrested after refusing to answer investigators’ questions.