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LONGVIEW — Longview ISD enrolled record-breaking numbers of students this fall, while enrollment declined in the city’s two other school districts. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Longview ISD’s 2012-13 enrollment is a record 8,843 students. That is up by 225 students from 2011-12 in numbers the district provided to the Texas Education Agency on Oct. 26, which is known as Snapshot Day. Snapshot Day provides a first-glimpse overview of public education in Texas with data including student attendance and demographics, along with school staffing and budget information. In Pine Tree ISD, total enrollment declined by 110 students, to 4,619. Spring Hill ISD saw enrollment dip by 14 students, to 1,913.

TYLER — A DPS trooper was involved in a car accident Monday morning on Old Omen Rd. in Tyler. KETK reports it happened near the Arrowhead Golf Course around 7:20 a.m. According to Smith County DPS officials, Trooper Abernathy swerved to miss a deer that ran out in front of him, and ran off the road. The DPS unit was the only vehicle involved, and it is said to have substantial damage. Trooper Abernathy was being checked out out by medical officials.

AUSTIN — Allegations of voter intimidation, including at least one case in East Texas, have motivated minority groups to take their claims to the Capitol. The NAACP and the MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, are citing instances of voter intimidation. Lanisha Muckelroy from Rusk County claims she faced it from another voter. She says, “As I was walking by, I heard him say, I don’t need to know all that, I just need to know how can he help get this —- out of office.” NAACP counsel Robert Notzon is pursuing the case. He comments, “To make her personally have to weather that affront, repeated affront, there’s just no excuse for that.” The minority groups recommend victims gather as much information as possible and present it immediately to local authorities.

TYLER – Because of a fire, the Salvation Army in Tyler has lost some items that would be sold at their Family Store. The fire was in the back corner of the store at Bow and Spring Streets last Thursday morning. The building suffered only minimal damage.

Store manager Beverly Hilton said, “Due to the fire, we lost donations that had been left after hours outside the fence. We also lost donations inside the fence and several containers that we stored and transported donations. Among the things were several high dollar exercise equipment.” With the exercise equipment goes an unknown amount of money that could have assisted in helping those that are in need.”

Hamilton added, “Without a doubt, the biggest are the items that now have smoke damage. New toys and other items were stored at the Family Store to give a head start with the Angel Tree Program which benefits the children and seniors of the community. Almost everything that was stored is now ruined. Going back and looking, we also lost wheel chairs and walkers.”

Some of the items were being earmarked for children whose name would be on this year’s Angel Tree.

Help is being sought from anyone wanting to make sure Christmas is special for every man, woman, boy, or girl who needs a helping hand. Monetary donations can be made online at
http://www.salvationarmytyler.org or by mail at P.O. Box 2050 Tyler, Texas 75710. You should include the word “Christmas” in the memo section. Christmas toys and other items can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Family Store Monday-Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm or schedule a pick up by calling 903-266-1635.

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

LONGVIEW – Construction crews from Texas Department of Transportation contractor Longview Bridge & Road on Monday are scheduled to begin final resurfacing operations Monday on State Highway 149 (Eastman Road) and State Highway 322 (Estes Parkway) between Interstate Highway 20 and Sysco Foods.

The work is scheduled to take approximately two weeks to complete, with the first week of work taking place on Estes Parkway and the second on Eastman Road. Crews will begin by closing the inside lanes and center turn lane on Estes Parkway 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.

Some weekend work may be performed as well to ensure the job is completed before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Once the work on Estes Parkway has been completed, crews will move to close the inside lanes on Eastman Road and begin the same process there. 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.

Also this week in Longview, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to complete base and pavement repair work on Spur 502 (Judson Road) between Loop 281 and U.S. Highway 80 (Marshall Avenue), then move to Spur 502 between Loop 281 and U.S. Highway 259 north of Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are
encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

TYLER – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make pavement repairs on State Highway 64 (Fifth Street) between Robertson and U.S. Highway 69 (Broadway Avenue), then move mid-week to perform the same operations on State Highway 64 (South Glenwood Boulevard) between the water tower and State Highway 31 (Front Street). A second crew is scheduled to perform pavement repairs on Interstate Highway 20 near the US 69 and Lavender Road exits.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT contractor R.K. Hall is scheduled to continue approximately two months of pavement repair and resurfacing operations on State Highway 110
south of Tyler between Shiloh Road and Toll Road 49.

Also this week in Smith County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to perform pavement repairs on Interstate Highway 20 near the Willow Branch Road exit (Exit 544) just east of the Van Zandt County Line. Crews will be making repairs in both eastbound and westbound lanes.

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.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation this week are scheduled to conduct fog-seal operations on the following roadways in the coming days:
*Farm Road 1803 between State Highway 31 and Farm Road 773;
*Ranch Road 3225 in Tool between State Highway 274 and the end of state maintenance;
*Ranch Road 3273 between Farm Road 59 and the end of state maintenance;
*Farm Road 59 from Farm Road 753 (Shady Oaks) to Anderson County line;
*Farm Road 1615 between SH 19 and the end of state maintenance.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid the long delays associated with fog seal operations.

HENDERSON — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on SH 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 FM 47 between FM 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.

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.

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 in each location 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.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man has been placed under a $20,000 bond after being charged with aggravated assault causing bodily injury to a family member with a deadly weapon. Rayford Earl King Jr., 31, was arrested around 1:45 Friday morning. He was taken into custody in an apartment in the 800 block of West Cheryl, a home he shared with his girlfriend. She told officers the two had gotten onto an argument. King is accused of grabbing her throat and threatening her with a knife. He is said to have later threatened to shot her and shoot up the apartment.

CHAPEL HILL — A Chapel Hill family is left homeless following a fire at its mobile home. KETK reports it happened just after 1:00 Friday afternoon on the 15000 block of Shady Creek Road. Officials with the Smith County Fire Marshal’s office say a person living next door called 9-1-1. Reporters were told the fire started in the water heater. The home is destroyed. No one was home at the time of the fire. The Red Cross is helping the family.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Planning and Zoning Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on November 6. One agenda item under consideration will relate to a local ordinance regulating certain aspects of the sale of beer and wine in the City of Tyler, should the ballot measure scheduled for the Nov. 6 election pass. The Planning and Zoning Commission will ultimately make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the content of the local ordinance. The public will have an opportunity to provide input into the process at the meeting, scheduled for 1:30pm on November 6 at Liberty Hall, 103 East Erwin Street.

“The City has been working for several months to prepare a local ordinance that will be ready for adoption at the Nov. 13 City Council meeting,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “We want to ensure that local guidelines are in place, should the measure pass. The Planning and Zoning Commission plays an important role in shaping what the Council may ultimately adopt.” You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to view the agenda for the meeting, along with a draft ordinance.

On July 25, 2012, the City Council called for the election after confirming the validity of petitions submitted to the City Clerk. At that time, Mayor Bass appointed a subcommittee of the City Council to begin developing a draft ordinance to address the aspects of this issue that are within the jurisdiction of the City to regulate. “I was surprised at how little is actually left up to the discretion of the City to control,” said Councilmember Mark Whatley, who led the subcommittee. “Most of the regulations are mandated by state law. In some situations, we can be more flexible; however, in most cases we were not able to be more restrictive than state law allowed.”

TYLER – Authorities have arrested 17 Smith County parents who allegedly violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The roundup was conducted Friday by Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith, with assistance from the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Adult Probation, the U.S. Marshals Service, Pct. 2 Constable Andy Dunklin, Pct. 3 Constable Jimmy Blackmon, and Pct. 4 Constable John G. Smith. Friday’s sweep comes on the heels of a similar roundup in Harrison County; both efforts were in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division. The sweeps focused on parents who were the subjects of arrest warrants for alleged contempt of court.

After holding a 4:30am briefing at the Smith County Emergency Operations Center, Sheriff Smith dispatched teams of law enforcement officers to locate and arrest the parents before they had a chance to leave their homes for the day. Child Support Division investigators aided the sheriff by providing logistical assistance to locate missing parents. Delinquent parents arrested on civil warrants face up to six months in jail.

According to the AG’s office, parents with child support warrants should contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Parents who have fallen behind on their child support payments – but are not subject to warrants for their arrest, should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at 800-252-8014 to make payment arrangements.

ATHENS — It took less than 30 minutes for a Henderson County jury to sentence Horace “Joe” Barker, 47, of Athens, to life in prison Friday morning after jurors convicted him of aggravated sexual assault late Thursday night. According to KETK and the Henderson County DA’s office, the conviction stems from the 2003 aggravated sexual assault of Barker’s six year old daughter. During sentencing, the jury heard evidence that Barker was previously convicted in 2007 of sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and had physically abused several women with whom he’d had relationships over twenty years.

TYLER — A setback for a defendant in the so-called Mineola child sex ring case. Tyler’s 12th Court of Appeals has denied an appeal by Dennis Boyd Pittman. Earlier reports said Pittman’s lawyer thought the outcome of the case would have been different if the court had allowed the showing of taped interviews of the children in the case. According to KETK, Pittman was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity. He was sentenced to life in prison.

TYLER — Today, participants from all over East Texas will join together to Lighten Up and make East Texas a healthier community in which to live. Sponsored in part by Brookshire Grocery Company, Allen Samuels Tyler, and Lighthouse Graphics, this event, the first of its kind in East Texas, will be held at Bergfeld Park in Tyler from 9:00am to noon.

Lighten Up East Texas is a regional weight loss challenge, created by the Fit City Coalition, in which individuals, teams, and communities can compete to lose weight and improve their health over a six-month period. Participants will receive entries into a grand prize drawing for every 5 percent of weight lost, tracked from an official weigh-in at the start and end of the challenge. There is no cost to participate. Participants can weigh in on November 3 at the event, or they can choose from an official weigh in site. Donated by Allen Samuels Tyler, the grand prize drawing will be a new 2013 Dodge Dart. Other prizes will be given away as well.

The event will feature vendor booths with health resources, the first official weigh-in for the competition, Inspiration Award winners, and much more. Organizations interested in participating with a booth or demonstration must register through the website, listed below.

George Roberts, chief executive officer of NET Health and co-chair of Fit City; Dave Berry, editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and Fit City co-chair; and Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass are all voicing their support of the effort. You can visit http://www.LightenUpEastTexas.com for more information, including official weigh-in.

LONGVIEW (AP) — The new owner of two East Texas daily newspapers has sold 11 East Texas weeklies included in the purchase.

Texas Community Media LLC announced that it has sold the weeklies acquired earlier this year as part of its purchase of the daily Longview News-Journal and Marshall News Messenger.

Texas Community Media President Stephen McHaney, president of Texas Community Media, says the sales closed Thursday.

Northeast Texas Publishing acquired the Atlanta Citizens Journal, Bowie County Citizens Tribune, The Cass County Sun, The Pittsburg Gazette and The Daingerfield Bee. Bluebonnet Publishing purchased the Mineola Monitor, Wood County Democrat and Lindale News & Times. Bardwell Ink bought the Gladewater Mirror and The Big Sandy & Hawkins Journal. Dan and Mary Ann Moore purchased the Grand Saline Sun.

TYLER — A resident of Justice Precinct 2 in Tyler is planning to file an injunction against the City of Tyler and Smith County on Monday. According to the resident’s lawyer, Matthew L. Thigpen, the injunction will prevent “tabulation and certification of votes for Proposition 1 and 2.” The filing is based on alleged improper election procedure by the City of Tyler and Smith County. All officials involved in the injunction have been notified. In the letter sent to KETK, it is stated the person hopes to promote “an open and transparent discussion of the petition procedure followed by officials.”

Buy Local First, a group that supports the sale of alcohol locally, has since responded to the upcoming injunction and released a statement that reads, in part:

“Once again we stand by the County Commissioners and City Council and their staffs who did their jobs as required by Texas law. The opposition has now raised this issue in three jurisdictions, City of Tyler, Smith County and Sulphur Springs and in all three their claims were resoundingly rejected. The consultants hired by these groups have yet to be disclosed and it is clear by the timing of their actions today that they are attempting to influence the outcome of Tuesday’s election. It is clear they know they are losing. So what they couldn’t win at the ballot box, they will now try to win in the Courts.

“Every citizen of Tyler and Smith County should be outraged at these frivolous actions and show their displeasure by making their voices heard on Tuesday with a resounding vote “FOR” Props 1 & 2 on both the City of Tyler AND the Smith County JP 2 ballot.”

CENTER (AP) — Authorities in a Texas county where a drug enforcement program was allegedly used to shake down black and Latino highway travelers are returning more than $100,000 taken during the traffic stops. The stops in Tenaha near the Louisiana border often resulted in people being forced to hand over cash without any charges being filed. They have led to multiple lawsuits and criminal investigations.

District Attorney Kenneth Florence says Shelby County has dismissed all pending forfeiture cases, even those without a connection to Tenaha. He says the cases were dismissed in an effort to move on after an agreement was reached in August to settle a class action lawsuit.

The settlement, which has yet to receive a judge’s approval, will require the county to eliminate racial profiling from law enforcement.

KILGORE — Police say they have suspended the hunt for a man suspected of starting a fire at an apartment facility in Kilgore. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, officials were searching for a male wearing a black jacket, no shirt, and blue jean shorts who reportedly ran from police after they responded to a call of a residential fire shortly after 10:00 Thursday morning. The search was concentrated in the woods near the Danville Road loop area. No one was injured in the fire at apartments in the 3500 block of Stone Road.

LONGVIEW — Crews battled a large fire Thursday at the Regency Apartments in the 700 block of Gilmer Road in Longview. According to KETK, it reportedly began when roofers working on the site caught the roof on fire with a torch. Longview firefighters were called to the scene just after noon. It took them about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control in the complex’s Building #8. No people were injured, but one dog died in the blaze. Firefighters went door to door to get everyone out of the building. Twelve people have been displaced by the fire. The Red Cross is assisting those individuals.

TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation Board of Directors has decided to suspend any plans for a golf tournament during this year’s plan of work. Historically, the Board hosted the Gil Hitt Memorial Golf Tournament, in memory of the former school board president and local business leader. The tournament has been held almost 20 years and honored Gil Hitt for about a dozen years. “Our plan is to create a permanent endowment named the Gil Hitt Memorial Leadership Fund. This fund will exist in perpetuity — no donations will ever be spent,” stated Larry Goddard, executive director of the Foundation. “The interest earned will be given annually for a classroom teacher grant—long after we are all gone, there will be a teacher assisted in the name of Gil Hitt.”

The golf tournament had been in mid-June and was held last year in early November on a trial basis. No golf tourney will be held as planned on Monday, November 5th. “This will be a fitting tribute for a fine man. Classroom teachers and principals need discretionary funding. And this decision will guarantee that Gil Hitt’s life will be remembered forever,” said Goddard. “Last year’s golf tournament netted $1711.11. Given the rising costs of staff and volunteer time and fees for country clubs, this is the best decision. We are not cancelling the tourney idea but as one director said, ‘Let’s let it rest and if we see good reason to bring it back, it will be stronger than ever.’”

A 5K/10K run is being planned for February and possibly a formal gala in the spring. “It seems there is a golf tourney every weekend and more of the tourneys are having problems finding underwriters and the teams’ costs are a ‘push.’ We started this fundraising tourney almost 20 years ago and had such success—we see two or three golf tournaments a week for some nonprofit in our area,” said Goddard. “The field is full and we need an innovative plan of action for finding resources for Tyler ISD to inspire learning, enrich teaching, and enhancing opportunities for District students, teachers, staff and their families.”

Questions can be directed to [email protected] and donations may be mailed to: Tyler ISD Foundation, 315 N. Broadway, Suite 401, Tyler, Texas 75702 designated for the Gil Hitt Memorial Leadership Endowment.

TYLER — East Texas Medical Center Tyler’s kidney transplant program was honored recently at the Seventh National Learning Congress, where it received a bronze award from the Department of Health and Human Services. The award ceremony in Grapevine acknowledged hospitals, programs, and individuals from across the nation in the areas of donation and transplantation.

The transplant division analyzed the 266 individual kidney transplant programs. The award process measured exceptional outcomes in post-transplant survival rates, wait-list mortality rates and deceased donor transplantation rates. No programs in the nation received a gold award, 15 received a silver award and ETMC Tyler was one of 56 programs that received a bronze award. That means only 26 percent of the kidney programs in the country were honored, which included ETMC.

“This award is a tribute to our outstanding kidney transplantation team,” commented Dr. Steven Potter, medical director of the ETMC Transplant Center. “We are honored to receive this recognition. Since the program began in 1987, ETMC has performed 607 kidney transplants.

MARSHALL – Harrison County Sheriff Tom McCool and Marshall Police Chief Stan Spence have arrested 11 Harrison County parents who allegedly failed to pay their court-ordered child support. The seven-day sweep, which began last Friday, focused on parents who were the subjects of arrest warrants because of their alleged failure to pay child support. “Parents have a moral and legal obligation to make regular child support payments,” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (pictured) said. “By collecting child support, we are ensuring young Texans have the resources they need to grow healthy and strong. We are grateful to Sheriff McCool and Police Chief Stan Spence for their commitment to Texas children.”

This week’s sweep targeted parents who are wanted for contempt of court because of their alleged failure to pay child support. After holding a Friday evening briefing, teams of law enforcement officers were dispatched to locate and arrest the allegedly noncompliant parents. According to information from the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Child Support Division investigators supported the effort by providing logistical assistance to locate unsuspecting parents. Parents arrested on civil warrants face up to six months in jail. Cash bonds posted by parents seeking release from jail are paid to the custodial parents and children who are owed back child support, according to officials.

Officials say parents with child support warrants should contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Parents who have fallen behind on their child support payments – but are not subject to warrants for their arrest – should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014 to make payment arrangements, according to officials.

LONGVIEW — Longview firefighters have extinguished a fire on the 300 block of Davis Street. The fire began just after noon Wednesday. A fire department investigation found that the fire began in the kitchen when one of the burners was left partially on after being used. According to KETK, four people live in the house, but only one person was at the house at the time, and there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials do not suspect foul play. Red Cross will be assisting the family during any displacement.

GREGG COUNTY — A Kilgore man was arrested Tuesday evening after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers said he drove drunk with three children in the car. According to KETK, Jose Antonio Cordova, 40, drove off the road multiple times at about 6 p.m. before directly into oncoming traffic near Texas 31 in Kilgore. The driver was tested to see if he was drunk and admitted to having four or five beers. Troopers found more than five cans in the Hummer he was driving, according to his arrest affidavit.

Cordova had three children, ages 8, 10 and 13, in the car with him. The children told troopers they were afraid and asked their father to return to his lane. Cordova has been charged with driving while intoxicated with a child under 15-years-old and two counts of endangering a child criminal negligence. Cordova was held Wednesday in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $7,500.

TYLER (AP) – The financially strapped oldest junior college in Texas has received permission to hire an auctioneer and sell some buildings. A bankruptcy judge in Tyler on Wednesday approved plans by Lon Morris College in Jacksonville to hire AmeriBid LLC. Brent Wellings with AmeriBid says the auction could be scheduled for December. Lon Morris College sought bankruptcy protection in July. Fall classes were suspended at the 158-year-old United Methodist complex because U.S. law bars federal assistance for students at schools that file for bankruptcy. The Texas attorney general’s office is investigating how a $1.3 million endowment was spent by the school.

TYLER — A young Tyler boy, the object of an Amber Alert, has been found safely. The boy’s dad, who is accused of killing his ex-wife, is in custody. The West Monroe Louisiana Police Department notified Tyler officers around 11:30 Wednesday night that they had recovered Lucas Calvert, 4, and arrested his father James Calvert, 41.

Louisiana officers tried to stop Calvert’s gray Buick LeSabre. After a brief chase the car wrecked on a dead end road. Officers took the driver into custody and the boy was found in a rear seat. Two weapons were found in the car.

It all began just before 12:15 Wednesday afternoon. Tyler Police received a call of a shooting in the 3300 block of Bain Place. Upon arrival, officers learned that Calvert had allegedly shot his ex-wife to death and abducted their son. Police identified the victim as Jelena Radobanovic Sriraman, 30.

Tyler police had obtained an arrest warrant for Calvert, charging him with capital murder. State District Judge Jack Skeen set Calvert’s bond at $2,000,000. He will now be returned from Louisiana to stand trial.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has secured an arrest warrant for Capital Murder on James W. Calvert. The warrant was issued by Judge Jack Skeen. Bond has been set at $2,000,000. A 24 hour hot line has been set up at the Tyler Police Department Command Post. The number to call with information on James Calvert is 903-595-7220. If the line is busy, you’re asked to call the main communications line at 903-531-1000.

Earlier, Tyler police issued an Amber Alert and began investigating the death of a woman after a child was abducted. On Wednesday at around 12:10 p.m. the Tyler Police Department received a call of a shooting in the 3300 block of Bain Place. Upon arrival officers learned that the 41-year-old Calvert, of Tyler, had allegedly shot his ex-wife to death and abducted their 4-year-old child, Lucas Calvert. Police identify the victim as 30-year-old Jelena Radobanovic Sriraman.

Officers and investigators are searching for Lucas Calvert. He is white, about 3 feet tall, and weighs about 30-40 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue long sleeved sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. Police also seek James Calvert, who is 5’9″ and weighs 185 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He is believed to be in a 2000 Buick LeSabre 4 door, gray or silver in color, bearing Texas license plate DP4-G858. James Calvert is considered armed and dangerous.

SMITH COUNTY — The parents of a 15-year-old Quitman girl killed in a Van Zandt County auto accident in February 2011 have filed a federal lawsuit against General Motors. According to KETK, Skylar Carpenter was “properly restrained” in a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Debra Holcombe when the Suburban flipped on Texas 17 near Interstaet 20. Carpenter was among six Quitman High School FFA students on their way to a convention in San Antonio.

Skylar’s parents, David and Becky Carpenter, filed a suit in federal court in Tyler last Thursday against General Motors, claiming that the vehicle’s restraining system failed to protect their daughter. According to the Southeast Texas Record, General Motors is accused of knowing that the vehicle failed to provide adequate occupant protection in a rollover, failed to provide adequate restraint throughout the entire accident, violated the principles of crashworthiness by not providing proper restraint and by not preventing ejection, and for failing to conduct adequate testing or proper engineering analysis.

COLLIN COUNTY — Former Sulphur Springs police chief Donnie Lewis, 63, has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in Collin County to ten counts of indecency with a child. The child is a family member. The incidents happened more than a decade ago. Lewis was originally indicted on sixteen counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of a child and indecency. Some of the counts were reduced or dropped as a result of his plea deal. Lewis will receive credit for the 307 days he spent in jail awaiting trial.

SMITH COUNTY – One person has been killed in two vehicle accident in Smith County. Albert Singler, 81, of Lindale was pronounced dead at the scene. The wreck happened just before 8:45 Tuesday night on Interstate Highway 20 near the 551 mile marker. The wreck blocked traffic in both west bound lanes. Prior to the accident, a call to 911 indicated someone was traveling east in the west bound lane of the interstate. The investigation is continuing.

LONGVIEW – A Gregg County man has been arrested for burglary. Officers were able to identify him by the red spaghetti sauce around his lips and mouth. Michael Don Mitchell, 38, of Longview, has been charged with burglary of a habitation.

Authorities say he was the suspect who broke into a home on Crowder Lane. He is said to have taken around $90 in cash. He also took time at the home to eat a bowl of ravioli. When a Lakeport police officer found Mitchell, he noticed the red spaghetti sauce, which the officer knew was “consistent with the sauce used in Chef Boyardee raviolis.”

Mitchell was being held in the Gregg County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches home has been destroyed by fire. KETK says it was reported Tuesday night in the 5000 block of East Hospital. The initial report made no mention of injuries. The fire remains under investigation.