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QUITMAN — The Wood County Sheriff’s Department is asking the public’s help in attempting to locate 55-year-old Marquita Gutierrez. According to KETK, she has an extensive medical history. Gutierrez is from the Alba area in Wood County. Marquita was last seen on October 14, when she borrowed her mother’s white Ford F250 bearing Texas license plate AX47520 to go to a doctor’s appointment in Canton. Marquita never arrived at the appointment and has not been seen since that date. The Wood County Sheriff’s Department is requesting that anyone who may have seen Marquita or her vehicle please contact the CrimeStopper tip line or the Sheriff’s Department.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler’s Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the TxAIRE Homes project Wednesday. The event featured Jonathan W. Taylor, director of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, which awarded UT Tyler a grant to establish the institute and monies for the homes’ construction. “We are extremely happy with the project and believe that what we are demonstrating here will have a significant impact upon how houses are built and operated,” said TxAIRE Executive Director John J. Vasselli. More than 50 local companies have participated in the design and construction of the TxAIRE houses, while technology products from more than 35 Texas-based companies are showcased within the two, he added. Construction began in June.

According to officials, the TxAIRE Research and Demonstration Houses have been designed to serve as realistic test facilities for developing and demonstrating new technologies related to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainable construction materials and methods. The TxAIRE Houses are said to be fully instrumented testbeds that make possible full testing and analyses of roof, wall, window, and slab building envelope components. TxAIRE was established in 2007. According to the UTT website, “The overarching focus of TxAIRE is upon high performance buildings, with key elements being indoor environmental quality as it relates to human health, and building systems design and performance, with particular emphasis upon energy efficiency.” You can go to http://www.uttyler.edu/TxAIRE/ for more information.

TYLER — Mediation begins in a Tyler courtroom for a lawsuit against former Gregg County Constable Robbie Cox. A mother accuses the constable and others of wrongful eviction from an Easton home she rented from the constable’s wife. According to KETK, the mother claims the constable threw her belongings, including clothes and furniture, outside in the rain on Christmas Eve 2006. She says her appeal of the eviction is still pending at this time.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to purchase playground equipment for City Park, Glass Recreation Center, Griffith Park and Lindsey Park from Game Time Playground Company. In June, the City Council approved a donation in the amount of $60,000 from The Spangenberg Family Foundation to be used for the purchase of playground equipment at City Park and Glass Recreation Center. Because the City of Tyler was able to secure matching grant funds through Game Time Playground Company, a member of the US Communities Purchasing Cooperative, the City will be able to purchase additional playground equipment for Griffith Park.

Additionally, the Parks Department was approached by Tyler Soccer Association (TSA) regarding purchasing playground equipment to be installed near the soccer fields at Lindsey Park. In grouping this purchase with the others and securing further grant dollars from Game Time Playground Company, as well as a generous donation from the Tyler Soccer Association in the amount of $17,808.35, Tyler will be purchasing playground equipment for Lindsey Park as well.

“This is a great gift for our City,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “Parks play an important role in our community. They are a place where children can enjoy themselves and parents can get to know one another which is the foundation of a strong neighborhood.”

TYLER — The Tyler City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to grant the City Manager the authority to forgive demolition and weed/debris liens up to $10,000 when it is in the best interests of the City to do so. State law grants local municipalities the authority to assess a civil penalty against a property owner for failure to repair, remove or demolish a substandard building declared a public nuisance. In certain situations, this penalty can be imposed through a lien on the land on which the building stood (stands) and is tied to the City’s actual expenses to clean up the property. “The action taken by Council today provides the City Manager the discretion to waive these liens when it makes sense to do so,” explained Mayor Barbara Bass (pictured) Wednesday. “If it means getting the property back on the tax roll, it may be prudent to waive the liens assessed on the property.”

Certain criteria must be met to be eligible for the waiver, including:

* The applicant must make improvements to the land in question at least equal to the value of the lien.
* The applicant must not be the same owner as when the lien was assessed.
* The applicant must pay a $50 processing fee along with the fee for filing the lien release.
* Taxes on the tract are current.
* The applicant must comply with all City ordinances on required permits and has completed improvements that have been approved by the Development Services Department.

“This process is intended to encourage the redevelopment of some of our vacant infill properties where nuisance structures once stood,” added Mayor Bass.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has unanimously voted to amend city ordinances related to Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East in accordance with the Lake Tyler Master Plan. Revisions to the ordinances include:

* Requirement for building permits, issued through City of Tyler Building Department, for new construction after Nov. 16, 2011 on Lake Tyler leased lots and construction over the waters of the lakes
* Prohibition of encroachment into existing easements and rights-of-way
* Combined annual inspections of piers, boathouses and on-site sewage disposal systems
* Coordination of inspections with lease holders and property owners (Lake Tyler East)
* Prohibition of floating boathouses, piers and other on-water facilities
* Modifications to fees assessed for services provided and annual leases
* Approval requirements and fees for misting systems and insecticides
* New rental rates for leases created after Nov. 16, 2011
* Elimination of barge lot leases

“The Lake Tyler Master Plan came about from concepts laid out in the Tyler 21 plan to help make the lake more enjoyable for the residents of Tyler,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sam Mezayek, chair of the Lake Tyler Roundtable. “The changes in these ordinances are the first steps to putting this plan in motion.”

In addition to these changes to the code of ordinances, the City Council also unanimously adopted an ordinance extending the current extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to include all City-owned property in and around Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East that are not located in another city’s ETJ. “By making this property part of the City’s ETJ, we will be able to ensure that our property at Lake Tyler is developed in the same manner as property within the Tyler city limits,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “The Lake Tyler Master Plan is vital to ensuring that we are creating the best possible amenities at the lakes for all of our residents; making this property part of our ETJ will help make this a reality.”

TYLER — Tyler businessman Randy Stevenson has announced his intention to run for the District 9 seat on the State Board of Education, a seat he held during the 1990s. Stevenson is the owner of Stevenson Capital Wealth Management, a retirement planning and investment brokerage firm. As a former State Board member, Stevenson says he recognizes the hurdles facing the public education system in Texas and feels he can be part of the solution. “We have a challenge before us to stop the downward trend of the quality of education provided to the children of this great state,” says Stevenson. The incumbent, Tom Ratliff, was elected to the board last November. Go to http://www.randystevenson.org to find out more.

UPSHUR COUNTY — Officials with the Gilmer Fire Department report two vehicles were destroyed during a house fire on the 3000 block of FM 49 in Upshur County. At least half the home burned in the blaze, which is said to have originated in the garage. Authorities say the fire began around 3:00 Wednesday morning. A family, including a man, woman and small child, were sleeping in the home when the smoke alarms woke them up. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.

RUSK COUNTY — Rusk County has lifted a burn ban for residents. Rusk County Judge Joel Hale said, in a Wednesday news release, that county officials encourage residents to use good judgment and obey fire safety rules. Residents are responsible for any damage due to out of control fires.

CARTHAGE — A Panola County commissioner has been injured and his daughter killed following a wreck in front of the commissioner’s home. The accident happened around 6:00 Tuesday morning. The Panola County Sheriff’s Department says Commissioner Hermon Reed Jr. was injured while trying to stop his daughter from leaving. The truck the daughter, Rhonda Reed, was driving flipped over in a ravine. She was dead at the scene. Commissioner Reed was taken to a Marshall hospital and then transported to Good Shepherd in Longview. He is listed in serious condition.

TYLER – It looks like salaried employees at Tyler’s Trane plant are in for a salary cut. Ingersoll Rand Trane in Tyler plans to cut salaried employees pay by almost 24%. Employees had to sign a letter agreeing to the pay cut by the end of Tuesday’s work day. KETK-TV says the company told them the action was taken because of the tough economic times.

MINEOLA – The home of Wood County Commissioner Jerry Gaskill has been destroyed by fire. The house was located off County Road 2336, northwest of Mineola. Gaskill tells KETK he arrived at home to the sound of his smoke alarms going off. He tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher and water hose but the smoke continued to get heavier and forced him out of the house. There were no injuries reported. The cause remains under investigation.

LONGVIEW – A group from Tyler has approached Longview’s Hiway 80 Rescue Mission to start a similar service in Tyler. The group formed the Committee for a Rescue Mission for Tyler after the East Texas Rescue Mission closed. When the Tyler mission closed, a number of homeless people in the city were left without a shelter. A news release from the Hiway 80 Rescue mission says they have seen an increasing number of Tyler residents coming to them for services. According to Gregg Grubb, the Tyler committee’s leader, ” We hope to spread the word, not only for financial help, but for awareness of the need.”

TYLER — Officials with Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics announced receiving a three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Database. The rating places all 362 cardiac surgical procedures performed at The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital for one year ending June 30 in the top 15 percent of cardiothoracic programs that submitted data. The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is located on the campus of Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler.

According to information provided by STS, National Database participants engage in the process of collecting STS data and utilization of Database-derived information for the purpose of local and national improvement in the quality of cardiothoracic surgical care. Avoidance of mortality, avoidance of morbidity, use of the internal mammary artery and compliance for recommendation with medication usage are the criteria used to determine a program’s star rating.

“This is the first time we’ve received a three-star rating,” said James A. Caccitolo, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery section, Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital and sponsor of the data collection program. “It is the result of a great effort by a number of individuals. We have been collecting data here for a number of years now and we have seen steady improvement. With each data harvest, we have implemented programs
and changes. So we are very proud that we were able to achieve a three-star rating.”

Data submission to STS is not mandatory, but officials said that monitoring, submitting and analyzing the information helps improve patient care.

“It is important that we identify areas of improvement,” said Dr. Caccitolo. “We think it is important to maintain outcome-based statistics so that we know how we are doing and we can improve our efforts to treat patients in the best way possible.”

The cardiothoracic team at the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital includes Dr. Caccitolo, William F. Turner, Jr., MD and Neelan S. Doolabh, MD.

Since Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler launched the area’s first cardiac program 28 years ago, more than 11,000 open heart surgeries, 60,000 cardiac catheterizations, 638,000 cardiac procedures, and hundreds of robotic heart surgeries have been performed.

TYLER — UT Health Science Center at Tyler dedicates its new Academic Center and celebrates the opening of its new Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center. Health Science Center President Dr. Kirk Calhoun says the project will greatly improve his facility’s services. He says it will allow UTHSCT to expand the number of physicians and other health professionals it trains. According to Calhoun, the additions also figure to bring in more research dollars and address gaps in cancer care delivery. Calhoun notes that in the last few years, UTHSCT has won competitive research projects totaling over $107 million. UT System Chancellor Dr. Francisco Cigarroa was among those on hand for Tuesday’s ceremonies.

A quick rundown of what the new additions bring to the campus and community, according to UTHSCT officials:

Academic Center

1. The 85,500 square-foot Academic Center building will expand and build upon UTHSCT’s existing strengths in cancer and specialty care, and will support the expansion of its medical and health professions education programs.
2. The first floor is an expansion of the campus’s current oncology clinical operations and includes both medical and radiation oncology.
3. The second and third floors are currently shelled space; however, once completed, they will contain specialty clinics, an educational auditorium and classrooms, and the only medical library in the region – the Watson W. Wise Medical Research Library.
4. Total Project Cost: $67,000,000 – The cost of Phase I was $42 million. Phase II will finish out the second and third floors at a cost of $25 million.

Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center

1. The hallmarks of the new Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center are the highly-trained and experienced cancer care team, ultramodern technology, and patient comfort and convenience.
2. The tools UTHSCT uses to fight cancer are the most advanced available, including its new four-dimensional CT scanner and its superstar, the Varian TrueBeam – a linear accelerator that represents the next generation of radiation therapy. It is not only faster, but more powerful, precise, and accurate. Treatment that typically takes 15 to 20 minutes can be completed in just 5 to 10 minutes – targeting the cancer and minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
3. Patient comfort and convenience is the focus of every decision made at the Health Science Center – the cancer physicians’ offices, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and lab and X-ray facilities are all within steps of the front entrance of the Cancer Treatment and Prevention Center. Additionally, patients have convenient access to their primary care physicians, the university hospital, and a 24/7 emergency room – all at one location.

TYLER – A Panola County man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations. Edward Earl Davis, 45, of Carthage, pleaded guilty on August 16, 2011, to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. According to information presented in court, on Mar. 6, 2009, Davis purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Drug Emporium store in Longview with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Davis was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 2 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

TYLER – A Grand Saline woman has pleaded guilty in Tyler to embezzling bank funds. Lori Smith Pickens, 39, pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee in an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to authorities, from May 2008 to July 2010, Pickens was employed as a bank teller at the Grand Saline branch of Austin Bank. During that time, Pickens made unauthorized cash-outs from the accounts of multiple bank customers resulting in defrauding the bank of more than $100,000. Pickens was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 15, 2011. This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. Pickens faces up to 30 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — Tyler investigators have arrested three suspects allegedly responsible for the aggravated robbery of Roberto Lara Barroso, 28, of Tyler. The three suspects arrested are identified as Patrick R. Warthsaw, 23, of Tyler; Bobby Kim Green, 26; and Brittany Lynn Gilpin, 23, all of Tyler.

All three suspects were charged with aggravated robbery, a 1st degree Felony. Judge Christi Kennedy set bond at $500,000 on each suspect. Warthsaw and Green were also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, another 1st degree felony. Judge Randall Rogers set bond at $500,000 on each suspect on that charge. All three suspects have been booked into Smith County Jail. Investigators recovered the victim’s stolen vehicle from the William Booth Apartments on Golden Road, where the robbers had left it. Barroso remains in a local hospital in stable condition recovering from his injuries.

Last Sunday morning shortly after 4:15, the police received a suspicious person call stating that a man was sleeping at the car wash located at 1820 W. Gentry. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Barroso lying on the ground in one of the wash stalls, in and out of consciousness and badly injured. During the investigation, an investigator with the Major Crimes Unit learned that the victim had been beaten and robbed by two men and a woman. After the robbery, the assailants left the scene in the victim’s vehicle. Barroso was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a lower court decision requiring Lufkin Industries Inc. to pay $5.5 million for discriminating against black employees. The ruling Monday means the money can be divvied up among 1,000 current and former employees and ends a class action lawsuit initiated 14 years ago by two black employees who have since left the company. Lufkin Industries had filed a writ in September asking that the court review a 2009 ruling by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark that awarded damages for what the judge called unlawful discrimination in awarding promotions. The publicly traded company manufactures oil field equipment and employs about 3,000 workers worldwide. It was founded in Lufkin 109 years ago and remains headquartered there.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioners Court has voted to lift the county-wide burn ban, effective immediately, but urges citizens to exercise extreme caution and diligent supervision in their burning activities. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton recommended to the court that the ban be lifted, with the stipulation that the County Judge can reinstate the burn ban if drought conditions revert.

Officials say, even when there is no burn ban in effect, it is illegal to burn when winds reach 23 miles per hour or above. The Fire Marshal’s Office strongly advises against burning when winds are in excess of 15 mph. Seaton stressed that citations for reckless damage will be issued for fires that cross property lines. Under state law, burning must take place during daylight hours and certain items may never be burned on private property including: tires, electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, heavy oils, non-wood construction/demolition materials, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, and items containing natural or synthetic rubber.

LONGVIEW — Troopers have determined that the Nissan pickup authorities were searching for in connection with a hit and run that left a 4-year-old boy dead was not the vehicle involved in the fatal crash. DPS officials were dispatched at about 8:15 p.m. Monday to Texas 149 near Younger Road when a vehicle traveling north struck and killed 4-year-old Cesar Pedro Cruz. Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene at about 9:15.

The preliminary investigation shows that the youngster was walking in the road, northbound on 149 when it appears that he was struck from behind. Investigators believe that crash happened between 6:00 and 8:00pm Monday night.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Clay Steelman said the truck was originally suspected in the crash because the driver stopped at a nearby gas station and told the store clerk he hit a deer. Steelman said troopers determined during the investigation that the pickup did actually hit a deer. Investigators now believe to be involved in the crash is a vehicle in the Chrysler family, possibly a 2001 Dodge Durango or Dodge Dakota, silver or gray in color. The vehicle may have damage to the right front area, with damage to the fog lamp or headlight as well as the turn signal.

Steelman said Tuesday morning he was following leads in the investigation in hopes of finding the driver who struck the boy.

Cruz had been reported missing to authorities about an hour before his body was found, which was about a mile from his home. Anyone with information on this crime are asked to contact the Longview DPS office at 903-758-1789, or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.

TYLER — Tyler Firefighters answered the call for help at a house fire. It happened along the 3100 block of Autumn Drive. According to authorities, the family was cooking fish when the fire broke out. The family made an attempt to extinguish the blaze themselves but were unsuccessful. No injuries were reported. The house was destroyed.

ELKHART – One person has been killed and four injured in a two vehicle accident in Anderson County. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 287 near Elkhart just before 1:30 Sunday morning. Killed was Betsy Salazar, 40, of Waco. She was a passenger in a SUV that was hit by an SUV driven by Erik Shaun Green, 30, of Arlington. The Department of Public Safety report said Green’s SUV crossed over the center line of the road and hit the other vehicle. Anna Pecina, 22, Marysol Pecina, 21, and Luebin Garcia, 24, also all of Waco, were listed in “fair” condition at a pair of East Texas hospitals as of late Monday afternoon. Green, who suffered minor injuries, was later booked into the Anderson County Jail on a charge of intoxicated manslaughter.

Shortly after the head-on collision, a second wreck occurred when a 27-year-old Elkhart man struck a helicopter operated by Corsicana-based PHI Medical which had just landed in the middle of the roadway to transport Garcia to Tyler. Matthew Mitchell, 27, of Elkhart was charged with DWI after colliding with the helicopter in his 2000 Chevrolet Impala, according to the DPS.

GRESHAM — A shooting just south of Tyler has turned out to be self inflicted. A passerby found the woman in her car off Farm Road 2813 off U.S. Highway 69 south. The woman had earlier told Winnsboro authorities she had been kidnapped. After being found Monday afternoon she was transported to the hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening gun shot wound. Investigators say the woman shot herself with a gun she had bought in Tyler Monday morning.

LINCOLN, NEB. (AP) — The speaker of the Nebraska Legislature says the developer of a contested oil pipeline will move its route away from the state’s Sandhills area and the Ogallala aquifer, an underground water supply.
Mike Flood made the announcement Monday during a special session. Lawmakers were considering a bill that would give Governor Dave Heineman routing authority over the Keystone XL pipeline. The proposed pipeline would carry crude oil from Canada to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. The proposed route carries the pipeline through eastern Smith County.

The decision follows the federal government’s announcement last week that it would delay a decision on a federal permit for the project until it studies new potential routes that avoid environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska. TransCanada, the company proposing the pipeline, declined to comment but planned to hold a news conference.

JACKSONVILLE — Authorities in Cherokee County say a road rage incident has resulted in the seizure of cocaine, money, and a vehicle. On Sunday at approximately 10:55 p.m., Sgt. Matthew Poole with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department observed two vehicles traveling south on Jackson Street in Jacksonville at a high rate of speed. One vehicle, a red 2008 GMC 4 door pickup truck, appeared to be pursuing a silver colored passenger car as they approached the intersection of Jackson and Tena St. Because other vehicles were stopped at the intersection, the red pickup truck veered into the left hand turn lane, and continued through the red light.

Sgt. Poole and a Jacksonville PD officer who was traveling north on Jackson at the time stopped the red pickup truck in front of the LaQuinta Inn. Sgt. Poole identified the driver of the pickup truck to be Milton Cynell McFarland, 41, and the passenger as Tynecia Patton, 17, both of Jacksonville. It was also discovered at that time there was a 5-year-old male child asleep in the back seat.

Deputy Greg Ray located and stopped the silver colored sedan further down the road. He was advised by that individual that the driver of the red truck had discharged a firearm at him in an apparent “road rage” incident, and had then begun to chase him down the roadway. Deputy Ray relayed this information to Sgt. Poole, who then ordered McFarland and Patton to exit the vehicle. As Patton exited the vehicle, Poole reportedly observed her attempting to conceal an unknown object in a jacket and ordered her to drop the jacket. An inspection of the jacket revealed it was a 6.9 ounce package of suspected powder cocaine. The street value of the powder cocaine is estimated to be $7,000.

The adult occupants were arrested at the scene, and a further search of the vehicle uncovered $894.00 in cash. The red truck was seized by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Bonds set by Pct. 1 Justice Of The Peace Brenda Dominy are as follows:

McFarland:
Charge: Manufacture or Delivery of Substance (Felony 1) – $250,000
Charge: Ran Red Light (Misdemeanor C) – $150
Charge: Driving To Left Of Center Of Roadway (Misdemeanor C) – $170
Charge: Unrestrained Child (Misdemeanor C) – $123.50
Total Bond: $250,443.50 – Other charges may be pending

Patton:
Charge: Manufacture or Delivery of Substance (Felony 1) – $250,000

TYLER – TrinCARE Clinical Laboratories, an affiliate of Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, has selected Mayo Medical Laboratories as its primary reference laboratory. Trinity Mother Frances says the selection will give TrinCARE access to Mayo Clinic’s extensive menu of laboratory tests and clinical expertise.

According to a news release, TrinCARE Clinical Laboratories is the largest hospital-based reference lab in East Texas. Trinity Mother Frances officials say TrinCARE offers a comprehensive test menu and a full range of support services for area health care providers utilizing state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Through its worldwide network of more than 4,000 clients, Mayo Medical Laboratories enables hospitals, medical centers, and health care organizations around the world to send tests to the laboratories of Mayo Clinic, which Trinity Mother Frances officials term some of the most sophisticated in the world. Through this arrangement, according to the news release, TrinCARE will offer its communities immediate, collaborative access to complex tests performed by Mayo Clinic.

“We are committed to providing prompt and accurate laboratory services delivered with the latest information technology,” said Todd Hancock, COO, TrinCARE. “Most laboratory testing will continue to be done locally by TrinCARE with only the most specialized tests being sent to Mayo Clinic. For those in need of laboratory testing, specimens will continue to be collected either at the health care providers’ clinic or one of the TrinCARE Patient Service Centers. The selection of Mayo Medical Laboratories will offer East Texas physicians and the patients they serve access to the same advanced clinical diagnostic testing available at the Mayo Clinic. We are proud to be able to make this announcement.”

According to Trinity Mother Frances officials, specimens provided to TrinCARE Clinical Laboratories will be transported via air to Mayo Clinic, with test results often available the following day through a computer interface. Additionally, Mayo Clinic physicians and scientists in every specialty laboratory will be available for consultation regarding test selection, utilization and methodologies, and result interpretation.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say they’ve arrested three burglary suspects who also face other charges. On November 12 at 1:07 p.m. officers were dispatched to a residential burglary that had just occurred in the 900 block of Coushatta Trail. Officers were told that the homeowner had just arrived home to find a man coming out of the victim’s laundry room. The suspect was carrying the victim’s generator. The victim told police the suspect saw him and threw the generator and another item into a maroon Mitsubishi Galant and left.

Police in the area were able to locate the suspects in the 1600 Block of Wood Place. During a search of the car officers also located approximately 9/10 of a gram of methamphetamine and a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine. Officers identified and arrested the three suspects, who are all from Longview. They’re Shaina Marlea McDowell, 22; Corey Dean Williams, 20; and Trevor Joseph Warnix (pictured), 23. All three suspects were charged with possession of a controlled substance and burglary of a habitation. All three suspects also had additional warrants they were arrested for as well.

ATHENS (AP) — The remains of a Korean War veteran have been finally laid to rest in his East Texas hometown more than 60 years after he was declared missing in action. The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports that Cpl. Benny Rogers was buried on Saturday in Athens amid a sea of flag-waving veterans, supporters and family members, some of whom recalled his mother’s anguish over the unknown whereabouts of her “good son.”
Rogers’ remains were recently found in North Korea and confirmed through enhanced DNA testing.

His family last heard from Rogers in a letter he sent to them on October 30, 1950. Three days later, the 20-year-old soldier was caught in the Battle of Unsan, which claimed the lives of more than 1,000 soldiers.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department kicked off a special speed enforcement effort on Monday and continues it through November 18. Police say this effort is to promote safety for drivers and passengers traveling on very busy streets and highways during this holiday season.

The Tyler Police Department continues participating in a DWI and Red Light enforcement program being conducted through the month of November. The enforcement detail of officers will be on the look-out for intoxicated drivers and red light runners in the City of Tyler. This enforcement program is funded by a state grant that was awarded to the Tyler Police Department. Police urge everyone who is drinking and considering driving to have a designated driver, or to hire a cab to get home safely. They also encourage drivers to slow down when approaching an intersection with a yellow light and not enter into an intersection on a red light. The Police Department Friday wrapped up a seat belt enforcement program, also funded by a state grant, that began November 8.