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LONGVIEW — Longview police investigate a gunfire incident. Tuesday evening shortly after 10:15, officers responded to a shooting at the Globe Inn Motel, at 1300 East Marshall Avenue. When officers arrived they were told a man identified as Will Cox Jr., 37, of Longview, and several others were involved in an altercation. Witnesses said Cox allegedly shot Darkis Ramond Vaughn, 29, once in the leg. He then allegedly turned the weapon on a 29-year-old woman and threatened to shoot her as well. He allegedly fired the weapon several more times, striking the rear of the car the woman was sitting in. Cox then reportedly fled the scene. He was located a short time later near Teague Park. Cox was arrested for Deadly Conduct and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. He was transported to the Gregg County Jail without incident.

TYLER – The Tyler City Council decided Wednesday to table three alcohol boundary exemption requests. According to KETK, retail stores asked the council for permission to sell alcohol within the current 300 foot boundary. CEFCO on Broadway, Super Mercado on the Loop and Sam’s Club on the Loop were all seeking permission to sell alcohol at their respective locations. Two of the stores were denied because of nearby schools, and the third, a church. Council members said they plan to look over each location’s dynamics before making a decision.

TYLER — Smith County Republicans have a new party chairman. With 33 of 46 precinct chairs at the meeting, the Smith County Republican Executive Committee voted Tim McCormick, 50, as the new Republican Party of Smith County’s chairman. The vacancy came open due to J. Ashton Oravetz, Jr.’s resignation in January. Mr. McCormick is a Tyler public school music teacher and has served as a Republican precinct chair in Smith County, as well as in several other Texas counties.

TYLER – Tyler ISD showed progress in several areas according to the latest Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) Report. Those areas include attendance, dropout rate, completion rate, and college readiness. Tyler ISD’s student attendance rate increased from 95.8% to 96% from the 2009-2010 school year to the 2010-2011 school year. At the same time, the District’s dropout rate for students in seventh and eighth grades dropped from 0.1% to 0%. The completion rate for students in the class of 2011 also increased to 93%, up from 91.2% last year and 89.6% the prior year.

In terms of college readiness indicators, Tyler ISD students improved in several areas. The number of students who took the SAT/ACT increased; the average ACT score increased; and the advanced course/dual enrollment completion increased.

When compared to the state, Tyler ISD has a higher percentage of Economically Disadvantaged students, At-Risk students, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students. Nearly 70% of Tyler ISD students are Economically Disadvantaged, compared to the state average of 60.4%.

“Our students are benefiting from the instructional support our teachers provide combined with rigorous coursework,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Gary Mooring (pictured) said. “We are proud of these improvements, and we will continue to focus on areas where there is more work to be done. Despite becoming an increasingly urban school district, we are continuing to make progress in key areas. We are responsible for educating all children, and our teachers and staff are determined to help each student reach his or her highest potential.”

NACOGDOCHES — Carpenter Elementary school in Nachogdoches as evacuated after a fire Tuesday morning around 10:00 in a pre-K classroom. KETK reports firefighters were able to contain the blaze to one room, but smoke spread from the fire to twelve other classrooms. Authorities believe the blaze was electrical in origin. No one was hurt.

NACOGDOCHES — One person has been arrested and a second is on the loose after a pair of men were caught allegedly stealing heavy equipment. According to KETK, deputies were dispatched to a burglary in progress near County Road 262 in Nacogdoches County Monday afternoon. The suspect’s used a tractor to pull another tractor from a wooded area and crank it. The duo then hooked up a Bush Hog mower to their tractor and headed in different directions, each on a tractor. Responding law enforcement found Joey Van-Cooper Smith, 26, on his tractor with the stolen Bush Hog close-by County Road 262. He was arrested and booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail and charged with theft. Detectives later found the stolen tractor at a house on Appleby Sand Road, but the suspect, David Heath Parker, 23, had already left the scene and is still on the loose. A theft warrant for Parker was obtained by authorities.

TYLER – Tyler ISD is embarking on what’s termed a new and innovative effort to engage all segments of the community and increase involvement in discussions on how to improve schools. The first step in this process will be a parent survey to identify strengths and areas needing improvement at each campus. The survey launches today, and will ask parents to share their thoughts regarding the overall campus climate, including areas such as safety and behavior, communications, instructional programs and support services. “We welcome this survey as it invites parents to share their thoughts on what we do well and where we can improve,” said Gary Mooring, Tyler ISD Superintendent. “Our conversations will continue beyond this one initiative. Engaging in an ongoing, constructive dialogue is the best way to work toward continuous improvement.”

Parents for whom the District has an email address on file will receive email invitations to participate in the survey. Any parent who does not receive an email invitation may click a link posted on http://www.tylerisd.org to access the survey . Any parent without Internet access may complete the survey at any Tyler ISD school, or a paper copy may be requested by contacting the Tyler ISD Communications Department at 903-262-1064. The District is working with independent research and communication firm K12 Insight, which will administer the survey. Parent responses will be confidential, with reports shared in a manner which does not identify individuals.

Once the reports are reviewed by the Tyler ISD leadership team, they will be made available to the public, along with specific actions parents can expect as a result of their feedback. According to a TISD news release, “Future projects are planned to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in this critical dialogue and that every facet of the District continues to improve.” Mooring adds, “We embrace another opportunity to hear from all of our parents, and I thank all our community partners who are helping us with outreach. I know that such transparency will help us build more trust which will lead to more productive collaboration as we work toward achieving our mission of providing all students a premier education and preparing them to be successful, productive citizens.”

SMITH COUNTY — A date has been finalized for the closure of a mail processing center in Smith County. Sources with the local postal service employee union tell KETK they were informed by management that the East Texas Processing and Delivery Center will close in June. The sources say employees had originally been told that the facility would not close until 2014. They also question the actual savings the Postal Service claims it would obtain from the facility’s closure.

The closure of East Texas P&DC was originally reported in February of 2012, when the decision was made to shut down the facility. Authorities had announced facilities operations would be split between the Shreveport, North Texas, and Austin centers. At the time, employees said they did not want to be “uprooted” or transferred to other cities. One employee estimated that up to 100 of the current facility’s employees would choose not to relocate.

The issue of the processing center’s shutdown was initially broached in December of 2011, when the U.S. Postal Service held a public meeting about the potential closure of several processing centers across the country in order to save money. The Waco and Lufkin centers were also among those slated to close. KETK spoke to McKinney Boyd, spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service early Tuesday morning. An official statement is expected later in the day.

TYLER — Tyler Police have asked for the public’s help in identifying two suspects accused of stealing cash from a hotel customer. It happened February 12 at the Best Western, 120 West Rieck Road. Authorities said a customer was checking into the hotel when a suspect reportedly noticed he had a large cash roll. The suspects, described as black males, told the clerk that they wanted an application for employment. As the victim went to his car to retrieve luggage, one suspect reached into his pocket and grabbed the money. The suspects fled the area when the victim displayed a handgun in attempt to stop the theft. The getaway vehicle is described as as a blue four door.

If you recognize the suspects pictured, please contact the Tyler Police Department, 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers, 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed against the suspects in this case or any felony case.

TYLER — A suspect has been arrested after an attempted residential burglary. It happened Monday evening around 11:00 at 3617 Jan Street. According to authorities, the resident was awakened when he heard a loud noise. Shortly after the noise his bedroom door was opened and an unknown man was standing in the doorway. The suspect, who broke into the front door to burglarize the residence, realized that he was not alone and ran out the front door fleeing the scene on foot. Officers searched the area for the suspect and found a person matching the description at Paluxy and Loop 323. After further investigation officers arrested Shaquille Lollar, 18, Tyler. Lollar was transported to Smith County Jail and charged with Burglary of a Habitation, a 2nd degree Felony. His bond was set at $10,000.

SMITH COUNTY — Several East Texas fire departments were able to band together and save more than a dozen houses. Just after 2:00 Tuesday afternoon, a brush fire spread in the 17000 block of Ravenwood Drive, just off of Highway 155. A total of 14 homes were threatened by the blaze. Fire officials tell KETK one mobile home in particular was extremely near the brush fire. Winds were a suspected factor in the fire, but no official cause has been released. Authorities warn the public to pay close attention to burning during high winds. The Noonday Fire Department was the primary responding crew.

TYLER — A Lindale man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas. Christopher Florence, 41, pleaded guilty last September to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced yesterday to 38 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.

According to information presented in court, on January 27, 2011, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence on County road 141 in Overton, during which Florence was observed attempting to discard a semi-automatic pistol, $1,757 in cash and approximately 6.16 grams of cocaine base in the yard of the residence. Florence admitted to possessing the cocaine with the intent to distribute it to others in the area.

TYLER — A Tyler man and woman have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in an appearance in Tyler federal court. Juan Dedias Herrera, 29, and Lamanda McCoy, 34, both pleaded guilty yesterday to the distribution of more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine when they appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. According to information presented in court, on October 31, 2011, Herrera agreed to acquire and distribute methamphetamine with another person. McCoy admitted to being in possession of methamphetamine on April 20, 2011. Herrera faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. McCoy faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. Sentencing dates have not been set.

TYLER — A 26-year-old Ainsworth, Nebraska man has been sentenced in Tyler federal court for misapplying funds owed to the Farm Services Agency. Michael Kord Chapman, a former Wood County rancher, pleaded guilty last August to conversion of mortgaged property. He was sentenced yesterday to five years probation by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Chapman was also ordered to pay restitution of $83,622.42 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency.

According to federal prosecutors, between February 18, 2011 and April 7, 2011, Chapman sold approximately 158 head of cattle valued at over $83,400.00 that had been pledged as collateral on a loan from the Farm Services Agency. Instead of paying the loan, Chapman kept the proceeds of the sale for himself and converted them to his own use.

TYLER – A 39-year-old Longview man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for drug trafficking. Spencer Garod Elam was convicted by a jury last October of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone, two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony. Elam was sentenced yesterday in Tyler to a total of 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, Elam was arrested on May 16, 2011 following a lengthy investigation into a drug trafficking enterprise in Gregg County, Texas. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 11, 2011, charging 13 Longview residents, including Elam, with multiple drug and gun violations.

TYLER — A Hawkins man, formerly of Louisiana, has been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison for bank robbery. Robin Marion Allen pleaded guilty last September, to bank robbery. He has been sentenced to 160 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. Federal prosecutors contend, on June 25, 2012, Allen borrowed a car and drove to the Wells Fargo Bank on East Main Street in Atlanta, Texas. Allen approached a bank teller and gave the teller a hand-written note with instructions to fill a black bag with cash. The teller placed $1,944 in cash in the bag and returned it to Allen. Allen was arrested Atlanta two days later.

TYLER — A California man has been sentenced in Tyler federal court for drug trafficking violations. Hercel Vernoy Shultz, III, 37, pleaded guilty last September to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. According to information presented in court, on February 24, 2012, Shultz was arrested after he was found in possession of over 400 grams of methamphetamine which was in his luggage at the Amtrak train station in Longview. Before his arrest, Shultz had been traveling from Yuma, Arizona to Longview.

MARSHALL – A 45-year-old Jefferson woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Tracy Renee Hampton pleaded guilty on March 27, 2012, to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced in Marshall yesterday to 84 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. According to prosecutors, Hampton was involved in a conspiracy with others to purchase cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at multiple pharmacies across East Texas. Hampton was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 1, 2012 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

BEAUMONT — A Nacogdoches man man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Rodney Stevenson, 26, pleaded guilty last August, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.

Federal prosecutors say from 2008 to June 20, 2012, Donald Dixon, a.k.a. “Black”, Cedrick Fowler, a.k.a. “C” and “C-Murder”, Kerry Wayne Griffin, a.k.a. “Big Boy”, Omar Paunetto, Jose Angel Bustillos, Michael John Pereira, Rodney Stevenson, a.k.a. “Arod”, Darius Thorn, a.k.a. “Bs” and “Beez”, Tremaine Smith and Anthony Fowler conspired to traffic cocaine and crack cocaine throughout East Texas.

Stevenson’s role in the organization was to assist Cedrick Fowler in acquisition of cocaine and the distribution of cocaine base. Stevenson traveled with Cedrick Fowler on one or more occasions to purchase cocaine from Donald Dixon. On May 25, 2012, investigators executed an arrest warrant at Stevenson’s apartment and detained him after he attempted to flee. They found C. Fowler in a second bedroom of the apartment and Stevenson’s girlfriend in his bedroom. Underneath a pillow on Stevenson’s bed, agents recovered a FEG, 9mm, Model P9R, semiautomatic pistol. They also found 4 pounds of marijuana in the bedroom closet and a small amount of cocaine in a kitchen cabinet. They say Stevenson was responsible for distributing over 5 kilograms of cocaine

AUSTIN — Republican Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler has filed House Bill 1415 to give local school districts flexibility to employ highly qualified teachers for career and technical education courses. “Parents would love to have experts from various professions teaching their students. Right now, Austin is making that very difficult. This bill cuts the red tape,” Schaefer said. “I want our local school officials deciding whom to put in the classroom, not bureaucrats in Austin.” Schaefer says the superintendents in Bullard and Chapel Hill have voiced support for his bill.

KILGORE — Kilgore College student Samuel Essary has been awarded the first installment of a $3,200 college scholarship due to his high scores on the GED tests. The scholarship was awarded in Austin at the Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) Awards Banquet. He received the scholarship for having the highest scores of any TALAE student member in the East Region which is comprised of nine adult education programs.

Essary, now in his second semester of college at KC, was also the valedictorian of the KC GED graduating class last June after completing classes with the KC Adult Education Program. Since earning his GED, he has also completed the Intensive College Readiness Program to further prepare for college.

TYLER — Toll 49 Segment 3B from State Highway 31 to Interstate Highway 20 has been given an estimated opening date of March 29. The Texas Transportation Commission is meeting tomorrow to officially complete the transfer from TxDOT to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, allowing the NET RMA to take over once construction is complete. The NET RMA has scheduled a celebration March 2 to acknowledge the transfer. Officials say though the toll road is nearing completion, there are numerous items such as roadside work, striping, signage, and signaling to be wrapped up. According to officials, a separate announcement will specify the date and time the roadway will open to I-20.

TYLER — One woman was taken to a local hospital after her vehicle rolled-over Monday afternoon in Smith County. According to KETK, it happened a little before 4:00 on Highway 31 near County Road 238. Smith County DPS officials said the woman lost control of her vehicle, over-corrected and rolled. She was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

LONGVIEW — Funeral services are pending today for former Gregg County Sheriff Tom Welch. Welch, 83, was sheriff from 1973 until December 1979, when he resigned. He was found dead in his Gregg County home Monday afternoon.

In 1979, Welch along with former county commissioner Bill Satterwhite, Justice of the Peace Charles Cashell and former deputies Bill Roach and Jim Cochran were convicted in Tyler federal court of official corruption. Welch, Satterwhite and Cochran were also convicted on federal murder-conspiracy charges.

MARSHALL — A Marshall school student has been arrested after a gun was found in his back pack. Jawone Washington, 19, who attends the district’s Alternative Education Program, is charged with having a weapon in a place they are prohibited. The senior was booked into the Harrison County Jail. An off-duty officer, who works security at the school, found the gun around 8:00 yesterday morning. It was described as a 9mm which was not loaded. A magazine with ammunition along with some clothes were also found in the student’s back pack.

BROWNSBORO — Brownsboro High School implemented its Shelter-In-Place response plan Monday morning just before 9:00 as a result of a threat made against one of its students. According to a news release from the school district, information was given to school administrators reporting a Smith County resident had made threats against a Brownsboro High School student, specific and credible enough that school officials responded with Shelter-In-Place. According to the news release, the response was taken to ensure the protection of the campus and specifically the individual student.

Brownsboro ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Moran reports, “Our school district Chief of Police and campus administration did an exceptional job of using common sense to preserve the integrity of the school day, while at the same time, responding quickly and effectively to the threat.” The Brownsboro Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff, and BISD Police force coordinated an effort to protect the campus efficiently and the suspect was arrested in Smith County shortly after the threat was reported, Moran said. Moran added, “Parents, students, and staff in Brownsboro ISD, which includes the City of Chandler, should feel confident to know that school safety and the safety of our students is the most important thing.”

The Shelter-In-Place ended just before 10:00, only an hour after the information was reported, and students at Brownsboro High School did not miss any instructional time. The suspect was charged with terroristic threat, a 3rd degree felony, and transported to Henderson County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 dollars bond. According to the National Terror Alert Response, shelter-in-place is defined as “a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors.”

TYLER — A Henderson County man’s appeal has been denied last night by he Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler. According to KETK, Jeffrey Ross Seery was sentenced to 60 years in prison on three counts of sexual assault in January 2011 for raping a then 14-year-old girl. After the sentencing, Seery appealed his convictions, claiming that some testimony should not have been heard by the jury and that some of his evidence, which was kept from the jury, should not have been.

Seery was arrested September 27, 2009, by deputies who were dispatched to reports of a 14-year-old girl who had been assaulted at a house on Highway 31 near Athens. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and booked into the Henderson County Jail. Authorities also found two hand grenades and marijuana at the home. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents in Tyler traveled to the location and retrieved the grenades. Officers charged Seery with sexual assault while he was still in custody on an escape charge.

During the trial, the victim emotionally detailed her relationship with Seery and described how he groomed her from a young age to engage in sexual acts with him. Other witnesses testified Seery claimed to be a high ranking special-forces paratrooper who suffered from PTSD. At one time, the convict was thrown a going away party after claiming he was being deployed to Afghanistan. Military records show he was never in combat and was discharged as a private for various infractions, according to court documents. Prosecutors also claimed Seery fooled people into believing his military stories and used them to separate his victim from her mother. Seery can still petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review the decision.

LONGVIEW — Two families have been displaced following two unrelated laundry fires in Longview. KETK reports the first fire happened just before 5:30 Saturday afternoon at a house on Harroun Circle. When crews arrived at the scene, a fire was burning in the storage area of a laundry room. About $10,000 in damage was done to the home, according to the Longview Fire Department. No one was injured, but the family is now without a home. At least four people were displaced.

A second house fire occurred around 7:45 that evening in the 400 block of Delano Street. Authorities believe the fire sparked in the laundry room near electrical items. Officials say the fire did about $200,000 in damage. The blaze displaced seven people. All occupants of the home were able to escape without injury. However, one firefighter suffered minor burns to his neck during the fire. The Red Cross will assist the families.

KILGORE — Kilgore College is responding to a pepper spraying incident reported after the KC men’s basketball over Navarro Saturday night. The college offers its response in a statement provided to our news partner KETK. The college says at the conclusion of the game, KC fans and players gathered at center court to celebrate, and that KC players then headed to their locker room. The statement says, “Several individuals from Navarro were upset from the celebrating that was taking place and began verbalizing their disapproval which began to inflame the crowd. At this point, both teams had gone to their respective locker rooms. KC students were at mid-court, but never at any point crossed the floor to the Navarro side of the gym.

“KCPD, administrators and staff were present and were attempting to disperse the crowd gathered in the gym when players from Navarro came out of their locker room and tried enter onto the gym floor. Some of these Navarro players were being restrained by other players or fans. KCPD officers responded to the area where the Navarro players were trying to come out onto the floor and ordered them back into their locker room. Navarro players re-entered their locker room area, but Navarro fans kept verbalizing disapproval of the way the game turned out.

“At this point, a student manager for Navarro who was sitting on the second level behind the Navarro bench began repeatedly blowing a whistle. Navarro players once again attempted to enter the court. KC policemen instructed the Navarro players to get back in their locker room. The players ignored this request by KCPD and made threats toward the KC officers who were giving instructions. KCPD officers tried to back the Navarro players down the hallway leading toward their locker room, but the Navarro players were still being uncooperative and were still making threats toward KCPD officers. At this point, two KCPD officers deployed pepper spray in an attempt to gain control of the situation.

“Kilgore College athletic training personnel were present and provided care and assistance to the Navarro players affected by the pepper spray. After this, order was maintained and everyone eventually left the gym. Witnesses have reported that there were individuals from Navarro that were engaged in conduct that made it appear that they were purposefully trying to incite the crowd.

“This incident is still under investigation. At this time no criminal charges have been filed against any players or fans at the game, but the possibility has not been ruled out. The control measures used by KCPD officers will be investigated and a determination will be made as to whether these actions were done in accordance to departmental policy and/or state law. As part of the investigation, KCPD is currently taking statements from fans who witnessed what happened at the game. No KC players, coaches or fans were involved in the incident.”

HENDERSON — In May, Henderson voters will be asked to approve a bond issue to build a new middle school. School trustees approved the $27 million bond proposal at a noon meeting Monday. KETK reports supporters of the proposal say the current middle school is too old, and is not safe. They say the ten buildings with 44 entrances is too difficult to keep secure. The proposal calls for a new middle school the to be built adjacent to the current building, on the practice field. If approved by voters in May, it is projected the project would be completed in 2015.