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PALESTINE — An autopsy into the death of an Anderson County girl has been inconclusive and the investigation into her death is continuing. Sunday evening, Tori Blair Wilson, 8, said she had forgotten something and went outside her home. When she didn’t return, her family started searching for her. She was found, unresponsive, around 8:30pm in a wooded area about 80 yards from her home. She was rushed to Palestine Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor told the Palestine Herald-Press the girl’s death did not appear to be from natural causes or homicide. He said they should have the toxicology report back in two to three weeks.

HENDERSON — A suspect in a Henderson shooting remains in the Rusk County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Victor Luna, 19, of Henderson, was arrested a short time after the Monday night shooting. It occurred around 7:30pm in the parking lot of the Kroger grocery on U.S. Highway 79 south. Hit several time was Evert Almazan, 35, of Henderson. He is listed in critical condition at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center. Witnesses tell officers Almazan had been shopping and he and his wife were walking to their car. They say Luna pulled up in another vehicle, the men exchanged words, and the suspect opened fire.

NEW BOSTON (AP) — The suspect in the fatal shooting of a part-time northeast Texas sheriff’s deputy has waived extradition and been returned to Texas to face justice. Tucker Strickland, 21, is charged with capital murder in the Monday shooting of Bowie County Sheriff’s Deputy Sherri Jones. Bowie County District Attorney Jerry Rochelle says Strickland waived extradition in Ashdown, Ark., was returned to Bowie County on Tuesday.

Rochelle says Strickland’s booked into the Bi-State Justice Center in Texarkana pending transfer to a Texas jail outside Bowie County to avoid apparent conflict with the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office. Strickland’s accused of overpowering the 54-year-old deputy while being escorted from the Bowie County Courthouse in New Boston, grabbing her gun and shooting her dead Monday.

TYLER – A young boy was slightly injured when hit by a car’s mirror in the 200 block of West Houston. Investigators say the boy was coughing as he walked into the street and was struck by the car’s mirror. The car was going only 5 or 10 miles and hour and he suffered only minor injuries.

TYLER – Federal authorities in East Texas continue their crackdown on cold pill-and-methampetamine violations. Tina Lynn Fox, 44, of Carthage was sentenced to 135 months behind bars during a Tyler appearance Tuesday before Judge Michael H. Schneider. Fox was convicted by a jury on November 29, 2010, for being involved in a conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and several counts of possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to information presented in court, from February 2008 to August 2009, Fox traveled to various pharmacies in East Texas to purchase cold pills containing pseudoephedrine in order to manufacture large quantities of methamphetamine for distribution. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Apr. 8, 2010 charging Fox with federal drug violations.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Ray Nix, 36, of Daingerfield has been sentenced to 78 months in prison. He also appeared Monday in Tyler before Judge Schneider. Nix pleaded guilty on September 1, 2010, to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. According to prosecutors, on April 27, 2009, Nix purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens in Longview, in addition to making four other purchases that same day at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. A federal grand jury returned a 256-count indictment on February 2, 2010 charging Nix with federal drug violations.

HUDSON (AP) – A 71-year-old East Texas woman doesn’t mince words with a sign posted outside her house warning criminals to stay away. It says: “TRY TO BREAK INTO THIS HOUSE AGAIN, YOUR HEAD WILL BE BLOWN OFF!” An image of a gun is also on the sign. Claudia Holland was unharmed earlier this month when someone kicked in her front door. She thinks her barking dogs scared off the late-night intruder. The Lufkin Daily News reported Tuesday that Holland says it’s the first time in more than 40 years in the home to have something like this happen. She later found out that a house a couple of miles away was broken into around the same time. Holland’s son, who lives with her, helped arrange for the warning sign.

KILGORE (AP) – Five East Texas students will be prosecuted after 39 district buses had their tires flattened and school had to be canceled for a day due to lack of transportation. Kilgore police on Tuesday announced five high school students are expected to be charged with felony criminal mischief. The damage to the buses, discovered before dawn on April 8, forced the Kilgore Independent School District to call off school for the day. Nearly every bus serving the six-campus district had the valve stems removed from some tires. Police estimate the vandalism caused about $3,100 in damage.

LONGVIEW — A grass fire burns over 10 acres in Longview over the weekend on Eastman Road. According to KETK, the Texas Forest Service was called in to plow a fire line to help prevent the flames from spreading. No injuries were reported, but investigators are looking into what might have sparked the fire.

TYLER – Fifty new jobs are coming to Smith County due to a $6 million expansion of a Midland-based oil and gas chemical manufacturing and services company, Reef Services LLC (“Reef”). According to local economic development officials, the economic impact of the new facility is anticipated to be felt in the local community and throughout rural areas in this region of the state. Officials say the planned facility will additionally better facilitate growth opportunities for the company, as it is centrally located to current and future operations of Reef Services.

Clay Baten, Reef’s CEO stated, “After an extensive search in our target area, the Tyler facility was found to be an ideal opportunity.” Reef worked closely with the Tyler Economic Development Council (TEDC) to locate a suitable facility and gather information on the Tyler/Smith County area. Baten elaborated, saying, “Tyler has a terrific work force of experienced and qualified manufacturing and technical people. Tyler is approximately 300 miles closer to our major raw material suppliers. This allows for significantly reduced time between order and receipt of product, which will benefit our customers and our company. We are excited to become part of this community.”

TEDC officials say Reef Services has been experiencing the benefit of recent growth, through acquisitions and organic opportunities in the industry. According to officials, the opening of the Tyler manufacturing facility in the 134,000-square foot former Nautilus facility, on SH 155 North near Interstate 20, will lend an opportunity to increase the geographic footprint of the company, as well as enable the company to accommodate this growth.

The new Tyler manufacturing facility will be used mainly for the production of and blending of products used by the oil and gas industries and is expected to be operational in early 2012. Reef is looking for experienced and qualified applicants in manufacturing, administration, laboratory, and logistics. TEDC’s Tom Mullins says the jobs’ pay will “average between $40,000 and $45,000 each, plus a very generous fringe benefit package.”

You’re asked to submit any job inquiries to:
Reef Services, LLC
Erin Roland
[email protected]
PO Box 11347
Midland, Tx 79702

WINNSBORO — One man is dead after a shooting at Autumn Ridge Apartments on Beech St. in Winnsboro. Winnsboro Police say the man, Danny Harvey, was involved in a domestic dispute with his former girlfriend. Police say, Harvey went to his former girlfriend’s apartment around 9:00 p.m. and fired three shots through the closed door as she approached. One of the shots hit her leg. Harvey then kicked in the door, and chased the woman to into a closet, where he threatened her with the gun. Harvey turned the gun on himself and fired a shot into his chest. When emergency personnel arrived, Harvey was transported to a local hospital, where he died. The woman was also taken to the hospital for her injuries, but has since been released.

LONGVIEW — A second opinion is being sought after an autopsy report for Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, revealed her cause of death was “probable” seizure due to methadone and prescription drug withdrawals. Cowling, of Gilmer, was pronounced dead December 29 after she was found unresponsive in her Gregg County Jail cell. She was removed from the cell after hours of seizures said to be symptoms of withdrawal from methadone, former jail Cpl. Kashena Davis said at the time.

Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson, who pronounced Cowling dead at the hospital, said he is seeking a second opinion from a Tarrant County pathologist with Cowling’s autopsy results because the manner of death was left up to Jameson to decide and the cause of death was listed as “probable.” Jameson said once he gets results from the second pathologist he will determine whether the manner of death was accidental, undetermined, natural causes, foul play, etc.

HENDERSON — One man is in custody and another is clinging to life after a shooting in the parking lot of the Kroger Food Store in Henderson Monday night. Authorities were called to the location on U.S. Highway 79 South just after 7:30 p.m. Monday. When they arrived the officers found a Hispanic male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot. The victim was airlifted to ETMC Tyler. A suspect has been taken into custody. Authorities say the victim was standing in the parking lot when the suspect drove up and started shooting.

KILGORE — A man is arrested for a Kilgore incident involving a knife assault. Around 2:00 Monday morning the Kilgore Police Department responded to the area of R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium in regards to a person suffering from stab wounds. They found Samuel Gipson, 22 years of age, of Kilgore, lying on the ground, suffering from two stab wounds. Gipson was transported by ambulance to Longview’s Good Shepherd Medical Center where he underwent surgery and is in stable condition.

Witnesses identified Marcus Trevino Woods, 35, of Kilgore, as the person who stabbed Gipson after an argument at the Meadow green Apartment complex. Police Officers were able to locate Woods at the apartment complex and he was subsequently arrested. He was booked into the Kilgore Municipal Jail and a bond was assessed at $15,000.00. At last report, the motive for the assault has not been determined.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Tyler Economic Development Council has once again been recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) as an accredited economic development organization (AEDO). That makes it one of 25 economic development organizations with the accreditation. Originally accredited in February 1999, the Tyler organization was reaccredited by IEDC in 2002, 2005 and 2008. Following three more successful years of activity, TEDC has now achieved reaccreditation through April 2014, which will result in 15 consecutive years of accreditation. “The Tyler Economic Development Council displays the professionalism, commitment, and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor”, said IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle.

TEDC was the first economic development group to be recognized as an AEDO in the state of Texas, which currently has six accredited programs. Besides Tyler, they’re located in Brooks, Conroe, Houston, Hutto, and Laredo.

LONGVIEW — A motorcycle theft lands a man behind bars. Around 5:40 Sunday morning, Longview officers made a traffic stop in the area of Fairmont and Princeton on a pickup truck driven by Eric Wayne Smith, 30, of Longview. Officers noticed a motorcycle in the bed of the truck that was determined to be stolen from the 2000 block of Lee Street five days earlier. Smith was arrested and charged with theft, $1500-$20,000.

TYLER – Catholic Charities East Texas has chosen its long-term partner the East Texas Food Bank as recipient of a $20,000 grant made available from Catholic Charities USA. Karen Kendrick, disaster preparation/event coordinator, and Nell Lawrence, executive director, both of Catholic Charities East Texas, presented the check to Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “In these tough economic times, we find more and more people turning to food pantries to feed their families,” said Lawrence. “We are blessed to be able to assist our low-income neighbors to meet their dietary needs for active and healthy lives.”

The money will be used to provide food to people in need through 20 food pantries in East Texas. For Catholic Charities East Texas, the grant helps provide more food this year for an additional 160,000 meals for children, adults, and seniors in need. Catholic Charities has partnered with the East Texas Food Bank since its’ first year of service in 1988.

“We are truly grateful to Catholic Charities for their ongoing commitment in supporting the East Texas Food Bank and are agencies in our fight against hunger,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “Their latest gift will enable us to provide immediate relief to those who need it the most.”

LUFKIN — A Lufkin radio station owner is back in jail. Stephen Walter Yates is charged with violating his probation on a felony driving while intoxicated conviction. According to KETK, the 52-year-old Yates was convicted of his third DWI in 2007 in Polk County and sentenced to 10 years’ probation. The Polk County sheriff’s office issued the warrant last Tuesday. According to jail records, Lufkin police arrested Yates last Thursday. Yates owns Yates Broadcasting, which transmits five stations over the air from its downtown Lufkin location.

NACOGDOCHES — One structure was destroyed, but another 20 or 30 homes saved after a fire began about four miles west of Nacogdoches on Highway 7 Sunday afternoon. The fire, as well as those across the state, is an example of how high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation can easily catch fire and spread.

Nacogdoches County Commissioners on Monday, recognizing the dangers posed by such fires in East Texas, enacted a burn ban. Sunday’s fire brought Lake Nacogdoches and South Nacogdoches volunteer fire departments, as well as two Nacogdoches Fire Department engines and the Texas Forest Service to combat the fire, which burned about seven acres according to the Texas Forest Service. It was unknown if the vacant structure which burned was a home or another type of building, Nacogdoches Fire Department Captain Robert Ford said.

VAN ZANDT — Two men are arrested, authorities search for a third after an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip. Raymond Ybarra, 60, and Thomas Jacobs, 39, both of Wills Point were taken into custody at a home in Van Zandt County. Authorities found a significant amount of methamphetamines, as well as two weapons and a stolen 16-foot flatbed trailer. A third man fled from the scene at the time of the arrest and deputies are looking for him. A reward of $1,000 was awarded to the tipster.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A man who said his trailer loaded with metal was stolen was able to follow the trail which led deputies to the arrest of an Etoile man. James Anthony Tiller, 22, is charged with theft exceeding $1,500. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a man contacted the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office on April 12 to report that his trailer, loaded with a large amount of metal items, was stolen from his property located in the 1100 block of Old Highway 69 South. He estimated the value of the trailer and medal to be $13,700. Authorities concluded that Tillery stole the trailer. Investigator Mike Jones said Tillery was due a probation visit so he waited for him during the visit and made the arrest on Thursday.

LONGVIEW — A Longview home has been extensively damaged by fire. It was reported around 7:00 Sunday night in the 200 block of Solti Street. Fire investigators say the blaze appears to have started from a outdoor cooker that was too close to the house. No injuries were reported.

LUFKIN (AP) — West and Central Texas have not been alone in enduring destructive wildfires. At least one home has been destroyed in wildfires dotting the Piney Woods of East Texas. A statement from the Texas Forest Service says the one home destroyed was in a seven-acre fire in Nacogdoches County that threatened 20 to 30 homes in a pine plantation before firefighters tamed it. About 100 miles north of Houston, Trinity County saw a pair of forest fires with flames moving from treetop to treetop. No structures were reported damaged, but fires in Hardin and Tyler counties between Beaumont and Lufkin threatened almost 50 homes before the flames were tamed.

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

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation contractor Knife River started major pavement-repair operations on the State Highway 149 project in the Whiskey Bend. Crews established the lane closure Saturday afternoon and begin work yesterday morning. Once in place, the closure will last approximately two weeks, with various daytime lane closures to follow over the life of the project. This closure will have an impact on traffic in this area and will cause delays. TxDOT recommends seeking alternate routes if possible or leaving early to avoid delays during this closure.

Also this week in Gregg County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement-repair operations on Spur 63 between U.S. 80 Highway and Loop 281. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Beginning Tuesday, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to begin several weeks of pavement-repair operations in Rusk, Reklaw and Jacksonville. Crews will be working in the following locations in the following order:
*U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Highway 84 in Rusk, working in and around the intersection;
*US Highway 84 east of U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk;
*US Highway 84 in Reklaw in the curb-and-gutter section;
*U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Highway 79, working in and around the intersection;
*U.S. Highway 79 east of U.S. Highway 69.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

A second crew is scheduled to continue fog seal operations on U.S. Highway 175 between Frankston and Jacksonville. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repair operations in various locations on State Highway 37 in Winnsboro between State Highway 11 and Farm Road 515, and south of Winnsboro near Farm Road 1647. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation contractor A.L. Helmcamp is scheduled to begin work Monday to repair and resurface Ranch-To-Market Road 2329 between U.S. 175 west of Athens and Farm Road 316 south of Eustace. Crews will begin by closing the US 175-end of the project to thru-traffic for approximately two months while the most damaged part of the roadway is repaired. During this closure, TxDOT recommends using Ranch to Market 3054 via Log Cabin as an alternate route. Once that work is complete, the remaining four months of the $1.2 million project will be accomplished using daytime-only lane closures.

Also this week in Henderson County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 85 between the Navarro County Line and State Highway 274 in Seven Points. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge-repair operations on Farm Road 848 between Farm Road 346 in Whitehouse and State Highway 64 east of Tyler, and on Farm Rad 2015 between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 16 west of Winona.

A second crew is scheduled to perform ditch maintenance in various locations on Farm Road 756 (Paluxy Drive) south of the curb-and-gutter section in Tyler.

Finally, construction crews on Monday and Tuesday are scheduled to add centerline rumble strips to State Highway 64 between Chapel Hill and Arp. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement-repair operations on SH 19 in Canton between Interstate Highway 20 and State Highway 64. Once that work is complete, crews will be performing the same work on State Highway 64 west of State Highway 19 and on State Highway 243 west of State Highway 198. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform edge repairs on State Highway 323 between Loop 571 and State Highway 42. 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 perform edge repairs on Farm Road 321 between Tennessee Colony and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University’s School of Business is hosting organizational leadership expert Dr. Jim Laub as keynote speaker for its second annual “Business through the Eyes of Faith” initiative, which hosts a free public forum on the application of biblical principles in the workplace. The public is invited to hear Laub speak to students, faculty, and staff about servant leadership from a Christian perspective at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Education Building Lecture Hall, Room 117-120 on the Longview campus, 2100 South Mobberly Avenue.

Laub will also speak about “Building Healthy Organizations” during a free event at the same location from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. He will share key aspects that he says business leaders need to consider to develop healthy organizations, reduce turnover, provide sustainable growth, and have a positive effect on an organization’s bottom line. He will discuss why some organizations are strong and thriving while others are weak or even toxic places to work. Laub remarks that a healthy organization is one that fulfills its mission while strengthening its employees. He says it develops people while increasing its capacity for change and new vision.

TYLER — We’re winding down to election day, May 14 — and another vote on a Smith County jail bond proposal. County Commissioner Jeff Warr appears on this week’s KTBB “Staff Meeting.” He’s spearheaded the current plan after several others failed. This time, Warr says, he made sure to find out what the community would support. He tells us, “I decided I would go out and start meeting with different civic groups, different organizations, different city councils and leaders in the community and get their input.” And Warr says there’s no organized opposition to the plan. He adds that the proposal is cost-effective and addresses safety, his own major concern. The cost is $35 million, and 384 beds would be added.

You can go to http://www.smith-county.com for more information or to submit questions. You can also go to http://www.ktbb.com/audio to access the “Staff Meeting” show online.

JACKSONVILLE –Lon Morris College employees were paid Friday despite fears that paychecks would not be distributed on time. Afton Barber, Lon Morris spokesperson, said a wire transfer was received by the college on Friday and allowed 167 employees to receive their bi-monthly paychecks. Lon Morris officials initially thought the wire transfer would be delayed. “The wire transfer has not yet arrived,” said Tommy Ferguson, vice president of business and administrative affairs, in an email to employees Thursday. “This means that payroll will be delayed again.” Employees’ pay for March 31 was delayed five business days. The college is having financial problems due to expenses related to expanding student enrollment from 350 to 1,000 over two years, adding new academic and sports programs, and cuts to the Texas Equalization Grant Program, Ferguson said in a previous interview. Ferguson did not release details about the wire transfer. “I’m not going to say because I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know where it came from.” Lon Morris aims to raise tuition by $750 this fall to help alleviate the problem, he said.

LONGVIEW — The Arizona-based company that operates Longview’s network of a dozen red light cameras has pocketed $1.6 million for nearly 30,000 violations logged in the four years since the system started. The city’s take? Not a dime. In fact, Longview owes the company more than $650,000. However, a clause in the city’s contract with Phoenix-based RedFlex Traffic Systems states the city will owe nothing when the contract expires. The contract also guarantees RedFlex all revenue from the cameras. “When you throw that $1.6 million out there that looks like a lot of money,” said Mayor Jay Dean. The city is one year away from its opportunity to re-negotiate its deal with RedFlex. In preparation, Dean said the city has requested the company’s accrued costs of equipment, installation, maintenance and personnel since the contract began.

LONGVIEW — Diagnostic Clinic of Longview on Friday afternoon dropped efforts to halt lease renewal and extension talks between Gregg County and Good Shepherd Medical Center. Earlier Friday, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said he had received the latest version of a proposed lease agreement between the county and Good Shepherd, and had reinstated a public hearing on the matter for Monday morning. “We’re going to proceed with the hearing, but there will not be any vote by the commissioners court on Monday,” Stoudt said. It is possible the public hearing on Good Shepherd’s proposal to have its lease extended could continue past Monday. “We want to give everyone a chance to be heard, and we’ll do that,” he said. Stoudt said he was pleased Diagnostic Clinic had ended its efforts to secure a restraining order, void the county’s current lease agreement with Good Shepherd and halt further negotiations.

TYLER — Road construction crews were hard at work on Earl Campbell Parkway on Friday, which will run from Highway 155 to the Loop 323 in Tyler. Originally an extension of New Sunnybrook Drive, the new road’s name was changed last year to Earl Campbell Parkway by city officials. Those looking to take advatage of the new road, officials say, don’t expect the road to be done anytime this year. They say the two year project may not look like much now, but in the fall of 2012 it will be a four lane highway connecting the two busy areas.

TYLER — The immigration raid on a Tyler restaurant has sent shockwaves through the Hispanic community. At a local community center they gathered to talk about what this stepped up enforcement will mean. They gathered in the Hillside Community Center today to ask questions and get information on the raid on the China King Restaurant Thursday. Agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency spent the day questioning employees, but there were no arrests.

“The fact that they did not arrest anybody showed me that they are being very humane about their process,” says Gilbert Urbina of the Hispanic American Association of East Texas. “They were there, probably, due to information that they received. They are very organized and they have a specific target that they want to get to.”

And if the suspected illegal has a family, the process gets more complicated, and expensive. So authorities take it step by step.
“If the consequences are that you’re being removed,” Urbina says, “and there’s no avenue of relief for you. Then you have to plan accordingly to possibly move your family back to your home country.”

Urbina told KETK, the fact that an ICE office was established here means not only that there is a problem with illegal labor, but also that enforcement is going to be stepped up.