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TYLER – A Tyler federal judge has approved a pre-holiday distribution of $130,000 for more than 100 former employees of Lon Morris College who were unpaid for their final weeks of work when the school filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. That’s according to KETK. In a ruling announced Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Bill Parker approved the payment requested by estate chief restructuring officer Dawn Ragan.

“We are extremely pleased that the court is allowing this deserving group of former Lon Morris College employees to receive a paycheck before the holidays,” says Ms. Ragan, who negotiated the payment with representatives from the Nashville-based United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. “We are working hard to increase the estate’s value and make sure that every employee receives all the wages they’re owed. This is a positive step in the right direction.” Ms. Ragan says the $130,000 will be distributed to 138 former Lon Morris College employees beginning Friday.

A day before approving the payment for former employees, Judge Parker also approved the remainder of a $500,000 loan requested in early December to help complete the bankruptcy process. A scheduled auction of Lon Morris assets is set for Jan. 14 in Dallas.

LONGVIEW — Two people have been charged in the death of 27-year-old Ronnie Joe Gammage (pictured). KETK reports 20-year-old Sarah Haslam and 19-year-old Daniel Jones are charged with capital murder. Both are in the Gregg County Jail. During the course of the investigation, detectives identified four individuals who may have been involved in Gammage’s disappearance. Detectives interviewed Gammage and Jones. Authorities say that after the interview, the two led police to Gammage’s body, which had been left in Upshur County.

The suspects were identified through bank surveillance video that was released to the media. Police say four people had tried to cash a check on Gammage’s bank account within 30 minutes of Gammage visiting the same bank. Haslam and Jones were initially booked on aggravated kidnapping charges. Gammage was last heard from on December 4. He suffered from a mental disability which could impair his ability to make sound judgments. His vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of the Waffle House located at 318 East Loop 281 in Longview. The investigation is ongoing.

FLINT -— Some stores in Flint received their permits to sell alcohol late Wednesday night. According to KETK, Brookshire’s grocery store on the 20000 block of Highway 155 in Flint began selling beer and wine for off-site consumption after receiving their permit approval from the TABC on Thursday.

Another Flint store, Craft Corner on the 18000 block of Farm Road 2493, began selling alcohol as early as Wednesday evening. The store’s manager said they received their permit and first delivery of alcohol Wednesday and their second delivery was expected to arrive yesterday.

TYLER — Tyler Police continue their investigation of an assault and robbery. It happened at City Park, North Broadway and Queen around 10:00 Wednesday night. Officers said two Hispanic men and three Hispanic women were playing basketball when they were approached by several black men. One had a gun and fired a shot striking one person in the neck. The suspects then reportedly robbed the group and fled the scene on foot. The wounded victim was treated at a local hospital. The suspects were described as young thin black males about 5’8″ to 6 feet tall weighing approximately 150-180 lbs.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 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.

LONGVIEW — A suspect has been arrested in what Longview police say was a robbery that saw one of the suspects killed. Monday night, Noah Wood, 17, was shot after officers say he broke into a Longview apartment. He was said to have been shot by a resident with a rifle who was defending himself. Authorities have now arrested Xavier Ward, 20, (pictured) of Longview. He has been charged with aggravated robbery in the case. He is being held in the Gregg County Jail. His bond was set at $50,000.

BEAUMONT — A Northeast Texas man has pleaded guilty to making threats against the President of the United States. Joseph Scott Sword, 26, of Cooper, pleaded guilty Wednesday when he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin in Beaumont. He faces up to five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to federal prosecutors, Sword, who was incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Stiles Unit, located in Jefferson County, Texas, wrote a letter threatening the President and First Family. Sword stated that he was a member of a violent street gang called the Black P Stone and that he had men on the street watching the President and his family.

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas landowner battling TransCanada Corp. says a judge has declined for now to hear arguments on whether to temporarily stop work on the property. Michael Bishop says a Nacogdoches County judge put off a hearing scheduled for Wednesday until he can determine whether the matter should be in state court. Bishop wants work on his property to cease until the judge rules on whether the product TransCanada plans to carry through it is crude oil.

TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline is meant to transport tar sands, or diluted bitumen, from Canada to Texas. Bishop says tar sand isn’t crude oil. The section of the pipeline that would cross the international border has not been approved. A shorter portion from Oklahoma to Texas is under construction. The route carries it through eastern Smith County.

TYLER — A Henderson County man has been sentenced to federal prison. Mark Eugene Thomas, 56, of Athens, pleaded guilty March 7 to mail fraud. He was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. Thomas was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,509,169.70.

Federal prosecutors say from 1998 to 2009, Thomas was employed by Argon Medical Devices, Inc. (AMD), an Athens-based manufacturer and supplier of specialty medical products utilized in the areas of cardiology, radiology, and critical care. From 2004 to 2008, Thomas, the Accounting Manager for AMD, provided fraudulent data to AMD’s parent corporation and external auditor to make AMD appear more profitable in order to secure additional capital investments for AMD and the payment of performance incentives for AMD employees, including Thomas. This fraudulent activity resulted in a financial loss of between $1 million and $2.5 million.

TYLER — A 55-year-old Braidwood, Illinois geneticist has been sentenced for acquiring semen from illegally imported deer in East Texas. Dr. Raymond Favero pleaded guilty on July 11 to the felony offense of acquiring wildlife in interstate commerce in violation of state law and federal laws. He was sentenced yesterday to three years probation by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Favero was also fined $6,000.00 and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $24,000.00 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

According to information presented in court, on February 1, 2007, Favero acquired approximately 184 straws of whitetail deer semen valued at approximately $92,000.00, which he drew from a buck which he knew had been transported illegally from an out-of-state source. Then again, on January 28, 2008, Favero acquired another 110 straws of whitetail deer semen valued at approximately $55,000.00 which he drew from another buck which he knew had been transported illegally from an out of state source. Favero knew that Texas law prohibits any importation of live whitetail deer or live mule deer due to the threat of diseases transmittable by deer such as Chronic Wasting Disease and bovine tuberculosis. Favero earned a P.H.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992.

TYLER – The City of Tyler has been recognized by Homeward Deployed, an organization supporting the successful transition of men and women from our armed services into civilian life, with their Sea of Goodwill Award. Presented annually, the Sea of Goodwill Award is given to a community that best demonstrates superior support in linking public, private, and governmental support for our Veterans and their families. Homeward Deployed formally presented the Sea of Goodwill Award to the community at a ceremony at the Tyler Rose Garden yesterday morning.

In recognizing Tyler, Homeward Deployed specifically cited the Mayor’s Veterans Roundtable. Established in May 2011, this initiative exists to further develop and implement a Community Blueprint for supporting and enhancing veterans services with a focus on employment, education, housing, medical care and mental health. “Since the creation of the Veterans Roundtable, tremendous progress has been made toward enhancing the relationship between Veterans, their families and the Tyler community,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “The members of the Roundtable have worked tirelessly to ensure Tyler’s Veterans have the resources they need available to them.”

“It says a lot about our community that we are working to ensure that those who have served have what they need,” said Roundtable Co-Chair, Veteran and Councilmember Ralph Caraway. “What better way is there to thank those who have done so much for us?”

Smith County is home to nearly 18,000 Veterans as well as a Super Armory and the Texas Veterans Home that opened in November 2011. The economic impact of Veterans to the Smith County economy is estimated to be $60.8 million annually. “The Roundtable has increased community awareness of Veteran’s needs,” added Bass. “It is truly promoting the City of Tyler as a place that really cares about our Veterans.”

“Veterans have service and sacrifice for others in their DNA and the Veterans and Community Roundtable gives them the opportunity to continue to serve in making things better, not only for our Veterans and their families, but for the entire community,” said Major General John T. Furlow, U.S. Army retired. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org for much more on this story.

GILMER — Upshur County officials are investigating after carcasses of three dogs were found under a bridge east of Gilmer. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The discovery occurred Monday under the Cypress Creek Bridge at Farm Road 726 and State Highway 154, Upshur County Sheriff’s Capt. Gary Roberts said Tuesday. One of the dogs was found in a black garbage bag, one in a feed sack and the other was lying out in the open, Roberts said. The three dogs, which are believed to be mixed breeds, were severely decomposed, he said. Roberts said investigators could not tell whether the dogs had been shot, or died of natural causes and were left under the bridge to decompose.

TYLER — A northeast Tyler home is considered to be a total loss following a fire. . Emergency crews were called to 2118 Lyndon Avenue just before 10:30 yesterday morning. KETK reports firefighters were able to quickly put out the blaze, but fire officials say there was heavy fire and smoke damage throughout the house. Authorities believe the fire was sparked by a space heater placed too close to curtains in the living room. No injuries were reported in the incident, but two people are now without a home. Red Cross was notified to assist the occupants, who were at home at the time of the fire, but were not injured.

PALESTINE (AP) – Police credit several adults with stopping a fleeing suspect from driving away in an East Texas school bus. Palestine police on Tuesday arrested Cedric Brenard Lewis. About a dozen students were on the stopped bus, which was picking up more youngsters. Nobody was hurt. Lewis was being held Wednesday on charges of aggravated kidnapping, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, public intoxication, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. Anderson County Jail records didn’t list an attorney for Lewis. Bond wasn’t immediately set. Lewis allegedly caused a disturbance at some apartments and was being escorted out by a maintenance worker when he jumped into the bus driver’s empty seat. Sgt. James Muniz says the driver, who’d been assisting a student, helped the maintenance worker and an off-duty corrections worker subdue Lewis.

TYLER — Tyler Police say a man and a woman have been found dead inside a house at 1200 North Albertson Avenue. They are identified as Cynthia Pettigrew, 50 and Johnathan Lydia, whose 49th birthday would have been Tuesday. Police believe carbon monoxide poisoning from an electric generator operating indoors in the deaths of the couple, whose bodies were found in their home.

A Tyler police statement says police were called to the couple’s home about 3 p.m. Tuesday after a family member found their bodies. Police found the gasoline-powered generator had been operating inside the home. Sgt. Paul Robeson says an autopsy has been ordered.

The couple were found by family members who went to check on them, since they had not been heard from in a couple of days.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say it appears a teen shot to death was killed while trying to burglarize an apartment. Noah Wood, 17, was found dead Monday night. He was in an apartment at the Town East Apartments on Eastman Road. His body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy.

Investigators say Wood had entered the apartment an assaulted the residents. He was then shot by one of the residents with a rifle. A news release from the Longview Police Department said detectives have determined that aggravated robbery was the motive in the case. Police arrested a second suspect in connection with this case. Information will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for further review. The shooting remains under investigation.

TYLER — A Tyler man has received two 10 year prison sentences in connection with a fatal accident in December of last year. Jared Tyrell Stinecipher, 26, pleaded guilty in October to criminally negligent homicide and causing an accident involving serious bodily injury or death. Killed in the accident was Arthur Dewayne Murphy, 50. Stinecipher fled the scene, touching off a manhunt.

In 7th District Court yesterday, Judge Kerry Russell sentenced Stinecipher to two 10 year sentences, which will be served concurrently. Stinecipher is the son Lt. Mark Stinecipher with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. He was the one who called authorities when his injured son showed up at his home following the accident.

BEAUMONT (AP/STAFF) — A group of Southeast Texas property owners are appealing a ruling to the Texas Supreme Court a ruling allowing condemnation of private land for a planned Canada-to-Gulf Coast oil pipeline.

A Jefferson County court-at-law judge ruled in October that Keystone pipeline developer TransCanada can take land by eminent domain from property owners in the coastal Southeast Texas county.

Attorneys for the property owners contend that the trial judge misapplied state law granting eminent-domain powers to common carriers and developers of crude-oil pipelines. They contend TransCanada would have exclusive use to the pipeline and that it would carry oil from tar sands, which requires processing to liquefy it and is, therefore, not crude.

TransCanada wants a federal permit to ship oil by pipeline from western Canada’s tar-sand fields to Jefferson County. The proposed route would take the pipeline through eastern Smith County.

LONGVIEW — Authorities have released surveillance video of a group of people trying to cash a check belonging to a missing Longview man. The video, from December 4, shows four people in a car attempting to cash a check under Ronnie Joe Gammage’s account about 20 minutes after he had been there. He had been reported missing that same day.

Gammage is described as 6’ 8” tall, weighing 265 pounds, and usually dressed in western attire. Officials say he suffers from a mental disability which can impair his ability to make sound judgments. Gammage’s truck was found abandoned with slashed tires in the parking lot of a Waffle House at 318 East Loop 281 in Longview. His vehicle is a tan Chevrolet pickup truck. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ronnie Gammage is asked to contact Detective David Cheatham at 903-237-1147.

TYLER – A 43-year-old Tyler methadone clinic owner has pleaded guilty to attempting to burn down a building occupied by a competing clinic and then plotting to murder his co-conspirator after it became apparent that his co-conspirator might testify against him. Edward Jacobs pleaded guilty Tuesday in Tyler federal court to the felony offenses of attempted arson and solicitation of murder for hire. Jacobs admitted that on March 19, 2012, he gave Daniel Kubisty approximately $3,000 to burn down a building at 3322 E. Fifth Street in Tyler that was at the time being used by the “Add-Life Recovery Center” methadone clinic.

Jacobs and Kubisty both were indicted on June 6 and charged in a superseding indictment with attempted arson and conspiracy to commit arson. The indictment alleged that Jacobs and Kubisty conspired to burn down the building in order to gain a competitive advantage for the Methadone Clinic of East Texas, which also had an office in Tyler. On March 19, Kubisty was arrested in Tyler by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and was found to have a gasoline can, with a wick saturated in gasoline protruding from its neck, in the back of Kubisty’s pickup.

Jacobs also admitted that on June 1, he arranged a meeting with a man he believed he could hire to murder Kubisty in order to prevent Kubisty from testifying against Jacobs in a federal arson case. What Jacobs didn’t know was that the “hit-man” he was dealing with was cooperating with the ATF. During the meeting Jacobs offered to pay the cooperating witness $12,000.00 for Kubisty’s murder. ATF was monitoring the meeting and arrested Jacobs at the scene. The June 6 indictment also charged Jacobs with witness tampering, murder for hire, solicitation of murder for hire, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Jacobs had been in jail awaiting trial since that time.

Jacobs is facing from five to twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the attempted arson and up to twenty years in prison and a $125,000 fine for solicitation of murder for hire. Kubisty’s case is still pending trial.

CANTON — Authorities in Van Zandt County say they’ve captured a wanted felon after a vehicle and foot chase. Monday afternoon around 2:00, investigators with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office assisted Prec.# 1 Constable Mickey Henson along with the Grand Saline Police Department in executing a felony warrant at a location on County Road 1313.

Upon arrival at the location, authorities saw two people inside a truck. The occupants spotted authorities and quickly fled, eventually abandoning the truck with both doors open and still running. Authorities say it was confirmed the vehicle was stolen out of Dallas. Authorities were advised that the wanted person, Jimmy Don Thompson, had recently made threats to kill law enforcement to keep from going back to prison and was considered armed and dangerous.

Officials say they eventually found Thompson and made the capture by luring him toward a family member’s vehicle. According to officials, as Thompson approached the vehicle, units rushed out of it; authorities say Thompson was tasered and then placed into custody. Thompson was booked into the Van Zandt County jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle pending arraignment. He will be facing evading arrest charges at a later date. The other suspect is still at large but has been identified, and felony warrants will be issued for that person’s arrest.

LONGVIEW — Longview officials are investigating why an elementary student was caught with a gun on school grounds Tuesday. The student was found with the handgun showing it to a friend at the South Ward Elementary School, according to the Longview Police Department. KETK reports that school officials were first alerted to the gun on campus when friends of the child told a teacher. The gun was confiscated and police were called. The school, located on the 1000 block of South Mobberly Avenue, was never placed on lockdown as it was already dismissing students at the time. Authorities have not yet revealed the age of the student. Longview PD and Longview ISD are both investigating.

KILGORE — Authorities search for the suspect accused of passing bogus bills in Kilgore. Police tell KETK a bunch of counterfeit $20 bills surfaced over the past few weeks. Most of them turned up in local banks after businesses made their deposits.

ATHENS — Seven dogs have been found dead and another 106 allegedly cruelly treated dogs were seized by the SPCA near Athens. KETK reports that Monday at 9:00 a.m., authorities found 83 dogs and 22 puppies at a suspected Henderson County puppy mill, located at 2353 Rose Pointe. According to the SPCA, the animals were cruelly confined, not receiving sufficient care, and were forced to live in their own filth inside a feces-filled, urine-soaked home on the property. Most of the dogs were allegedly suffering from eye discharge, flea infestation, long nails, severely matted fur, and skin conditions. About 60 of the dogs were confined to crates, and some crates included up to seven dogs.

Sheriff’s officials began investigating the house back in October of 2011. Once law enforcement discovered the conditions of the animals, they contacted the SPCA for support. The SPCA says the stench of ammonia was so intense that detectives wore personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatuses, while inside the home. The SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level in the residence to be 67 parts per million (ppm). As a point of reference, short term exposure to any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure to any level over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans.

The dogs have been taken to the SPCA of Texas’ Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney, where they will be cared for until a custody hearing on Friday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m in Poynor. Deborah Eckeberger, 59, has been arrested for alleged cruelty to animals. She has been released on $15,000 bond.

The SPCA says that puppy mill owners breed dogs for the purpose of selling the puppies for a profit, and that the living conditions of the dogs come a distant second. If you suspect you’ve found a puppy mill, the SPCA of Texas encourages you to report inhumane conditions and animal neglect to your local law enforcement agency and to the SPCA of Texas. You can go to http://www.spca.org/knowpuppymills to do that.

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport announces that a new food concession, Le Bistro, opened Tuesday in the airport terminal. Gabriel Nguessan, owner of Le Bistro, was approved to begin operation in the commercial terminal at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in September. Since then, Nguessan has worked to prepare for the big opening. Le Bistro will offer gourmet foods and desserts including a number of appetizers, sandwiches, breakfast items, pies and cakes. Le Bistro will also have daily breakfast and lunch specials along with plans to launch a catering menu within the next few weeks.

“We are very pleased to have Le Bistro in the passenger terminal building. It is important to our customers to have fresh coffee in the morning, and having gourmet coffees is a real plus,” said Airport Manager Davis Dickson. “We urge everyone to come out. The airport is even offering 90 minutes of free parking for restaurant customers.” Le Bistro will open each morning at 5:00am for breakfast and remain open until 2:00pm for lunch menu items. Go to http://www.tylerairport.com to view the menu.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has received a number of cases in which citizens have reported their mail stolen from their mailboxes to gain access to their personal items of value. Police ask that you take your bill payments or any item of value to a secure mailbox or post office, or place them in the postman’s hands. You may also pay your bill online using a secure online account with your provider. As a reminder, police ask that you review your bank statements to audit your account and report any fraud that may have occurred.

LONGVIEW — Former Longview police officer, Leigh Ann Snyder filed a request late Monday asking for a hearing before the City of Longview’s appeals committee seeking to reverse the decision to terminate her employment. According to KETK, Snyder was dismissed Dec. 11 after she failed to return to work full time within one year of suffering an on-the-job injury. Snyder was injured December 11, 2011 when her squad car was hit by an intoxicated driver. She returned to light duty, but had to undergo a subsequent surgery in November that kept her from being able to return to full-time duty.

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to reports of suspicious activity and arrested two men for auto burglary. It happened around 3:30 yesterday morning in the 3300 block of Omega. Officers said a vehicle was reportedly driving through the neighborhood with no headlights. Authorities stopped the vehicle and found items reported stolen from several vehicles in the area. Jonathan Meza, 19, and Austin Taylor, 21,(pictured) both from Tyler, were arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on three counts of burglary of a vehicle. Additional property was also recovered during the investigation.

AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) — Nearly 80 Texas school districts either have failed to submit required safety audits or don’t meet full compliance. That’s according to the Texas School Safety Center, which was formed after the Columbine shootings in 1999. The attorney general’s office says districts “can’t let another second tick” without having a safety plan in place. School district on the list include:
Frankston ISD
Gary ISD
Hooks ISD
Laneville ISD
LaPoynor ISD
Leverett’s Chapel ISD
Martinsville ISD
Pewitt CISD
Timpson ISD
Union Hill ISD
Woden ISD

MARSHALL — Marshall police are continuing their investigation of a fatal accident. Killed as he was trying to cross the street was Elmer Flores, 28, of Marshall. The accident happened just before 7:30 Sunday night on U.S. Highway 59 at Johnson Street.