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UPSHUR COUNTY — Upshur County sheriff’s deputies seized 28 small-breed dogs Friday afternoon at what they described as a puppy mill. “We actually discovered this through following a burglary and theft call this morning,” Lt. Freddie Fitzgerald said about 3:30 as he and officers were en route to serve a seizure warrant at a home just south of Gilmer on Texas 155. According to the Longview News-Journal, the dogs, all Chihuahua and Yorkshire terrier breeds, were living in cages stacked on top of each other, Fitzgerald said. Most of the dogs were inside the residence. The lieutenant said criminal charges are likely for the dogs’ owner.

TYLER — Lufkin teenager, Jaron Parrish, passed away early Friday morning in a Tyler hospital. Parrish, 19, suffered a severe brain injury in a Sunday wreck on FM 1194. Around 1:00 Friday, Parrish died at East Texas Medical Center-Tyler, according to his father. “I guess he waited for all of us to get there,” Jeff Parrish said. “We turned him over to God and let him go.” The Lufkin Daily News reports, the last 48 hours have been an emotional roller coaster for his family as they’ve said goodbye to him twice. Monday Parrish’s doctors suggested he be removed from life support as they believed him to be brain dead. His parents selflessly made the decision, opting to donate his organs so others could live.

LONGVIEW — Months before he and three other officers were terminated in December, the Hallsville chief of police had been threatened with firing amid allegations his officers were double-dipping, failing to respond to calls in a timely manner and fraternizing with women while on duty. According to documents released by the city under the Texas Public Information Act, Hallsville Mayor Jerri Medrano repeatedly warned Chief Greg Scott in 2011 about performance issues within his department.

According to KETK, the most revealing of the documents was a memorandum from Medrano to Scott, in which the mayor accused the chief of being unprofessional, being too close to his staff to discipline them and ignoring public warnings that one officer routinely “spent time with women” in his car while on duty.

LUFKIN (AP) – An Angelina County jury has found former DaVita Dialysis nurse Kimberly Saenz guilty of capital murder. In the punishment phase Monday, she faces life in prison or death by lethal injection. Jurors in Lufkin on Thursday began deliberating in the capital murder trial of Kimberly Clark Saenz. They got the case after closing arguments. Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington told jurors the five patients Saenz is accused of killing in April 2008 had trusted her with their care but instead had their lives cut short by her. Defense attorney Ryan Deaton told the jury that Saenz is innocent and is being targeted by the clinic’s owner for faulty procedures at the facility in Lufkin.

LONGVIEW — Police are searching for a man who used stolen credit cards to make purchases in the Longview mall. Longview Police say, on March, 21, Officer Alex Chorba was dispatched to 320 E Loop 281 for a vehicle burglary. When Officer Chorba arrived, the victim told him someone had broken the front passenger window of their 2007 Nissan truck and taken several items out of the truck, including her purse.

On March 29, Officer Nora Cheatham was following up on the case because a credit card taken from the vehicle had been used to purchase items from a kiosk located in the Longview Mall. Officers were able to retrieve video from that location and are attempting to identify a suspect in the case. The suspect is described as a heavy set black male, possibly in his 30’s, balding, and has a goatee.

TYLER — Officials were called to a house fire in Tyler at 2317 Grand Avenue around 3:30 this morning. Investigators said the fire was caused by a lit cigarette left beside a bed. Four people were home at the time of the fire but were able to escape with no injuries. The house sustained heavy fire damage and is most likely a total loss. Fire officials notified the Red Cross to offer assistance to the occupants.

KILGORE — LeTourneau University and Kilgore College signed an articulation agreement Thursday. LeTourneau officials say it’s designed to ease the transfer of students into LETU from Kilgore and enable KC students to maximize their credit hours by knowing which credit hours will transfer to LETU degree programs. Officials say the agreement will make it easier for KC advisors, department chairs and deans to recommend courses that would apply to students’ bachelor’s degrees at LETU in a variety of majors.

MARSHALL – A 54-year-old Harleton woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in East Texas. Tamara Lynn Olivares pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine Thursday in Marshall before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. According to information presented in court, on August 14, 2010, Olivares purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a CVS store in Marshall with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Olivares admitted to possessing between 100 and 300 grams of pseudoephedrine. Olivares was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 4, 2011. Olivares faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

DALLAS — A Dallas police officer from East Texas has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child. Charles Walker of Lone Star was arrested after allegations that he sexually assaulted a child in his family. Rains County authorities say he was released after posting a $120,000 bond. Walker is facing 10 counts of child indecency and two counts of sexual assault. Authorities say some of the charges occurred when the victim was younger than 17 and continued when the victim turned 18. Walker is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a Dallas police investigation.

TYLER — Traffic lights at Broadway and Front Street in Tyler have been repaired following a morning accident. Officers spent part of the day Thursday directing traffic in the intersection. The accident, around 4:20 Thursday morning, initially closed the intersection. A car reportedly struck a westbound traffic signal, knocking it down into the westbound lanes of traffic. A utility pole supporting lines running east and west across the intersection was sheared off causing the lines to hang low across the roadway. The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

TYLER — Police say the woman arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with a Regions Bank robbery has confessed to both the Regions Bank robbery and a Telco Robbery in February. On Thursday, Tyler police received a financial robbery alarm at the Regions Bank located at 1810 SSE Loop 323 in Tyler. Information was also received from employees at the bank that the suspect appeared to be a black female wearing a mask, gray shirt, blue sweatpants and black shoes. She reportedly brandished a large knife and left the location with an unknown amount of money. A partial license plate of the suspect vehicle was obtained along with a description of the vehicle, possibly a black Chevrolet Impala.

Tyler Police Officers responding to the area located a black Chevrolet Impala at University/Lazy Creek in Tyler and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Vanessa Ashley Ashford, 27, of Shreveport. After a search of the vehicle officers located a bag full of money and an exploded die pack in the trunk of the Impala. Ashford was arrested for Aggravated Robbery, a 1st degree felony. She was interviewed by detectives at the Tyler Police Department. Police say she confessed to the Regions Bank robbery and also confessed to the February 29 robbery of the Telco Credit Union at 620 West Front in Tyler. She was also arrested for Aggravated Robbery in that case.

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court was presented with what are termed encouraging results from an annual independent financial audit conducted by Henry & Peters, P.C. during its regular meeting this week. “The County is seeing some positive trends for this economic environment,” CPA Tal Glenn said following his presentation.

According to a county news release, Smith County has a policy of maintaining a minimum level of reserve funds at 12% of budgeted expenditures. For the 2011 fiscal year the county was able to increase its reserves by $4.5 million, more than doubling the policy minimum. County revenue for 2011 exceeded budgeted projections while expenditures came in under budget, and the county’s bond rating increased, which contributed to the interest savings the county realized related to the jail bond indebtedness. During fiscal year 2011 Smith County adopted and implemented its first formal Capital Improvement Plan, which addresses major capital projects for the five-year period from 2012 through 2017.

“Our annual budget process serves as the foundation of the County’s planning, and it’s good to see the fruits of that process,” said County Judge Joel Baker, who serves as the county’s budget officer. “The last several years have been difficult for everyone, and these positive trends are encouraging.”

For the sixth consecutive year, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded Smith County a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fiscal year 2011 budget. Also during 2011 the county received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the GFOA. Additionally, the county continues to be recognized for financial transparency by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The Comptroller has awarded the county its second Leadership Circle Gold Award for meeting such a high standard of openness, and Smith County was one of the first counties in Texas to make its check register available online for public review. “We are literally an open book,” Baker remarked.

LONGVIEW — The Todd Rundgren concert scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at LeTourneau University’s S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center in Longview is cancelled due to the veteran musician’s sudden illness. A rescheduled date has not yet been decided. Ticket holders are encouraged to check the webpage: http://www.BelcherCenter.com for further details on a rescheduled concert date and can call the Belcher Center Box Office at (903) 233-3080 for refund information.

SMITH COUNTY — An abandoned house in the Flint area is a total loss after mysteriously burning down Wednesday night. Noonday volunteer firefighters responded to what was originally thought to be a fire in the woods near the Lakeway Harbor subdivision. When they got there, they discovered it was actually an abandoned house on fire. Firefighters were able to keep the fire off of an abandoned mobile home right next to it. According to KETK, neighbors say they heard an explosion and saw kids running from the place when the fire started. Officials on scene say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

KINDER, LA. (AP) – Louisiana State Police say a Texas mother and daughter arrested after a bank robbery in Mississippi are also accused of three holdups in Texas and west Louisiana. Louisiana State Police said Wednesday that Evie Mearlene Herrin, 57, and Amelia Darci Crew, 30, both of Cleveland, Texas, are accused of holdups Feb. 13 in Kinder, and of other bank robberies in Sulphur, Louisiana and Henderson, Texas. Sgt. James Anderson says he does not know the dates of the other two holdups. Police in Gulfport, Miss., arrested the women minutes after a bank robbery there on Monday. They remain in the Harrison County Jail. Police say that in Gulfport and Kinder, Herrin allegedly showed a gun and got money, and her daughter allegedly drove the getaway car.

KILGORE — Twenty students have graduated from the Kilgore College Fire Academy. The ceremony was held Wednesday night 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. 82:
*Burns Lake, B.C. Canada: Rylan Horni
*Canton: Dylan T. Louis
*Fort Worth: Chace Hobbs
*Garland: Preston Jenkins
*Henderson: Jeffery Cox and Kevin W. Temple Kelowna, B.C. Canada: Tyler Evans
*Kilgore: Travis Crews
*Lindale: James Cooper and Jay Wieneke
*Longview: Luis Israel Encalada, Phillip Recio and Jimmy Su
*Overton: Dylan Lantz
*Pampa: Jack D. Ware
*Rowlett: Mason Wilmany
*Salmon Arm, B.C. Canada: Jesse Foster
*Tyler: Jesus Alvarado, Isai Hernandez
*Union Grove: Richard Pittman

LONGVIEW – Longview’s Lafamo Road has reopened. The road had been closed since December 27th of last year. The construction project included new concrete culverts and pavement improvements at the Lafamo Creek crossing. This project providing bridge and culvert improvements is based on the Master Drainage Plan. This project was constructed by East Texas Bridge of Longview.

TYLER – A 50-year-old Carthage man has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Roy Daniel Tatum pleaded guilty on September 7, 2011, to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was sentenced Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to prosecutors, on March 9, 2010, Tatum purchased cold pills containing 2.88 grams of pseudoephedrine at a Wal-Mart store in Henderson. Tatum also admitted to purchasing cold pills on six different occasions from March 9 to April 8, 2010, which amounted to 15.84 grams of pseudoephedrine, all with the intentions of manufacturing methamphetamine. Tatum was named in a federal indictment returned by the grand jury on April 6, 2011, and charged with drug trafficking violations.

TYLER – A 21-year-old Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison in a counterfeiting case. Bryan Scott Mayfield pleaded guilty on November 8, 2011, to possession of counterfeit money. He was sentenced to eight months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Mayfield was also ordered to pay $1,750 in restitution.

According to information presented in court, on June 4, 2011, Mayfield assisted another person in passing counterfeit money at a Wal-Mart in Gilmer. Mayfield knew a cashier at the Wal-Mart and contacted her to see if she would be working on that date. Mayfield told her that he and others were planning to use counterfeit currency, and she agreed to let them make the purchase at her cash register. Mayfield was present and assisted in the purchase of a laptop computer with eight counterfeit $100 bills. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 15, 2011, charging Mayfield with federal crimes.

TYLER — The City of Tyler Wednesday hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the compressed natural gas station (CNG) that will be used for the city fleet. The opening is part of the effort to convert a portion of the City fleet to CNG in support of the natural gas industry. 21st Century Energy was identified in the Industry Growth Initiative as a legacy industry – critical to the diversification of Tyler’s economy and evolution into an innovation economy.

Officials say the effort to convert a portion of the city fleet to CNG was a direct outcome of the Industry Growth Initiative, or IGI, adopted by the Tyler community in 2010. According to city press materials, The IGI is a 20-year plan that identifies Tyler’s greatest opportunities to strengthen its economy and secure jobs for its citizens. Ten key building blocks are identified in the plan, including 21st Century Energy. You can go to http://www.TylerIGI.com to view the plan.

“For generations, the Oil & Gas sector has been a mainstay in the Tyler economy; it has provided us with jobs and stability when other areas of the country have struggled in tough economic times,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “However, this legacy industry still has so much more in store for us. With the development of horizontal drilling and the discovery of the Haynesville Shale, the Oil & Gas sector will play an important role in Tyler’s economic future.”

TYLER – The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved the annexation of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. Formerly the area was just north of city limits in Smith County. According to KETK, the annexation covers nearly 600 acres of property.

The process of annexing the campus began in January. “As illustrated in the Industry Growth Initiative plan, the higher education and Healthcare industries are critical components of Tyler’s local economy,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass at that time. “Healthcare provides for more than 25,000 jobs in our region and has an economic impact estimated at $3.1 billion. By annexing the UTHSCT into Tyler city limits, we will be taking an important step in continuing to support and grow these industries.”

The voluntary annexation of the campus was initiated by representatives of UTHSCT and is allowed under the State Annexation Law in the Texas Local Government Code. “We are pleased to see this process move forward,” said UTHSCT President Dr. Kirk Calhoun in January. “We look forward to becoming a part of Tyler not only in name, but as a partner in our city’s future growth and development.”

“This is a major step forward in the growth of our City,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “Healthcare education is so important to maintaining our high levels of medical care in East Texas and equally as valuable in providing jobs.”

LINDALE — Criminals in East Texas seem to be targeting homeowners more and more these days, and because of it, according to KETK, more and more East Texans are taking matters into their own hands. This week, one homeowner did just that, taking the man who allegedly burglarized his car on a car chase through Smith County.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hassan Snoubar of Lindale was having dinner with his family when his sister starting screaming from the driveway that someone snatched her purse right before her eyes. So Snoubar took off. He eventually caught up with the alleged thief parked on the side of Farm Road 849. That’s when authorities say the suspect put his car in reverse and fled. Snoubar followed while his sister was calling 911 from home. The chase finally ended with a crash on County Road 427. The driver was taken into custody. He’s identified as Reginald D. Whitmill, 33, of Tyler.

Authorities on scene believe Whitmill actually burglarized a vehicle at another home earlier in the day. Victor Thomas, the owner of that vehicle, plays percussion at his church in Lindale, so he had a Bible in his bag with his contact information written in it. That’s how authorities were able to return his possessions to him Tuesday afternoon. Thomas says he’s had run-ins with thieves before, he even held one at gunpoint until the police arrived.

TYLER – A 35-year-old Tyler woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations and money laundering. Jennifer Anderson pleaded guilty on Octpber 27, 2011, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder money. She was sentenced Wednesday in Tyler to 188 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Anderson was also ordered to submit to forfeiture of $10,000.

According to federal authorities, up until March 7, 2011, Anderson and co-defendants possessed more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, which they distributed in the Smith County area. Anderson also assisted in collecting the illegal proceeds from the sale of cocaine, using bank accounts to deposit the illegal proceeds and transferring funds to pay for the purchase and distribution of cocaine. Anderson also admitted to working with others with the intent to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the illegal proceeds. Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2011, along with four co-defendants.

Anderson’s husband, Gary Anderson, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on Mar. 5, 2012. Their three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

TYLER — More than 24 hours after being taken off life support, a Lufkin teenager whose organs were to have been donated continues to breathe on his own in a Tyler hospital. The Lufkin Daily News reports that following a Sunday morning wreck on FM 1194, Jaron Parrish, 19, was flown to East Texas Medical Center-Tyler, where he remained on life support until Tuesday morning. After being told by doctors that Parrish was brain-dead, his family made the decision to take him off life support, a family member said. Since that time, Parrish has defied the odds and his prognosis, continuing to breathe on his own. You can go to http://lufkindailynews.com to read more.

LUFKIN (AP/Staff) — Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday morning in the Lufkin trial of Kimberly Clark Saenz. A judge Tuesday recessed the capital murder trial of the nurse accused in the deaths of five dialysis patients. State District Judge Barry Bryan scheduled the Thursday arguments after rebuttal testimony from a prosecution witness Tuesday morning.

Saenz, who declined to testify in her own defense, is charged with one capital murder count that accuses her of killing as many as five patients. She’s also charged with five counts of aggravated assault for injuries to five other patients. Investigators have said bleach was injected into dialysis tubes.

LUFKIN – A teen injured in an Angelina County accident has died in a Tyler hospital from his injuries. The Department of Public Safety reports Jaron Parrish, 19, of Lufkin, died yesterday at East Texas Medical Center. He was a passenger in a car that slammed into a tree Sunday morning on Farm Road 1194 near Farm Road 3150. The DPS report said Parish was not wearing his seat belt. The car’s driver and two other passengers were injured in the crash. Their injuries were described as non life threatening.

TYLER – A Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations. Timothy Michael Callahan pleaded guilty last November to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced in Tyler federal court yesterday to 135 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to federal prosecutors, on November 2, 2010, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Callahan’s residence. During the investigation, Callahan admitted to using a peer-to-peer file sharing network, Gigatribe, to download and view child pornography. A forensic analysis of Callahan’s computer revealed approximately 477 images of child pornography, some depicting children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. Callahan has previously been convicted of sexual assault n Gregg County.

EAST TEXAS – Tuesday was a busy day in East Texas for child support arrests. Sheriff Maxey Cerliano arrested six Gregg County parents who allegedly violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The sweep was conducted in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division. In addition to the Sheriff’s Office, police departments from Longview and Kilgore participated in the countywide effort. According to a news release from the attorney general’s office, Child Support Division investigators aided the sheriff by providing logistical assistance to locate missing parents.

“Parents have a moral and legal obligation to make regular child support payments,” Attorney General Greg Abbott 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 Maxey Cerliano, Longview Police Chief Don Dingler and Kilgore Police Chief Todd Hunter for their unfailing commitment to Texas children.”

Child support investigators held concurrent roundups in Orange and Van Zandt counties. Van Zandt County arrest teams served eleven arrest warrants. Six other warrants were served there prior to the early morning roundup for a total of seventeen arrests. According to Van Zandt County authorities, five other persons are still at large and were not located. Officials say the total delinquent child support payments from these persons total over $810,000.

According to the attorney general’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.

TYLER — A former Smith County jailer was arrested last week and later indicted for allegedly having sex with a female inmate. According to KETK, on Friday, officials charged Lakerry Devonerich Bowie, 27, with violating civil rights of a person in custody. Investigators first learned of the accusations involving Bowie and the inmate last September. When authorities questioned him about the alleged incident, Bowie allegedly did not cooperate and was fired. He was employed by Smith County for two years. However, the inmate has confessed to consensual sex, but there is no such thing as consensual sex between law enforcement and an inmate, according to Sheriff J.B. Smith. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating the matter.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is rescinding Stage Two mandatory water restrictions that were put in place in December 2011 and reinstituting Stage One voluntary restrictions. According to Tyler Water Utilities Managing Director Greg Morgan, precipitation that the city’s received in recent weeks, and that which is forecast in the next week, has led the city to shift from mandatory restrictions back to voluntary restrictions. Morgan adds, “The long term forecast for rain in the upcoming summer is uncertain. Therefore, we will monitor lake levels closely and determine if we are able to remain at the Step One restrictions moving into the warmer months.” Lake Tyler is currently 2.5 feet below spillway levels and Lake Palestine is full.

Voluntary Step One modified drought measures call for residents to voluntarily conserve water and limit irrigation of landscaped areas to Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0,2,4,6,8) or Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9). Additionally, irrigation should be done between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The City originally implemented Stage One drought measures in early October. Then on Dec. 13, Stage Two drought measures were implemented. “Although the restrictions are not mandatory at this time, we encourage our residents to be prudent in their use of this valuable natural resource,” added Morgan. “Residents are urged to check for leaking faucets and toilets, ensure sprinkler systems are adjusted to not be watering pavement, and to irrigate only when necessary.”