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SMITH COUNTY — Jackson Heights Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter Jalen Smith is being remembered at events covering two days. Smith died this week after being critically injured in a rollover crash the night of November 30.

Services began Friday with a family only viewing from noon till 1:00 at Jackson Heights VFD Station #2, 19823 Hwy 31 East, Tyler. That was followed by a public visitation from 1:00 till 4:00. A candlelight vigil was held Friday evening at the fire station. A traditional firefighter funeral service was held today, with public viewing from 11:30am to 12:45pm. The official services began at 1:00 at the Green Acres Baptist Church “Chapel” located at 1607 Troup Highway, Tyler.

A memorial fund has been established in behalf of Smith at Austin Bank. Donations can be made at any Austin Bank location. The account is set up as: Jackson Heights Volunteer Fire Department Benefit Account for Jalen Smith. For more information, you’re asked to contact Johnny Brown, President, Smith County Volunteer Firefighters Association, 903-714-8506.

GREGG COUNTY– Officials with the Gregg County Department of Public Safety say they will submit a request to the District Attorney’s Office to charge Stormy Scott with criminally negligent homicide, a third degree felony, in a fatal pedestrian accident. It happened around 8:00 Friday morning on Highway 135 near Crews Road, just north of Liberty City.

According to KETK, Darrell Cannon, 50, died at the scene. Officials said Cannon was hit by the 20-year-old Scott, a Kilgore College student who had reportedly fallen asleep. Scott allegedly hit Cannon and a mailbox and kept driving until a witness chased her down and alerted her to what happened. Scott returned to the scene and has been questioned by officials.

TIMPSON — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting an earthquake in Shelby County. It happened just before 2:00 on Friday afternoon, two miles southwest of Timpson. The USGS says it was a magnitude 2.8. Timpson Police tell KETK they felt the ground shake. At this time, there are no reports of any injuries or damage. One person was injured in a magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck the region on May 17.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A Texas pastor says an Alaska murder suspect who confessed to targeting people across the country ranted at his sister’s March wedding about how he didn’t believe in God. Israel Keyes told authorities he killed Anchorage barista Samantha Koenig and at least seven others over the past decade. He was found dead last Sunday in his Anchorage jail cell after he killed himself. Pastor Jacob Gardner told The Anchorage Daily News that he was traveling with Keyes’ mother and other relatives for the killer’s funeral Sunday in Deer Park, Wash. Gardner says Keyes attended a sister’s wedding in March in Texas, where he ranted about how he didn’t believe in God. That would have been shortly before his arrest in Lufkin. The pastor says some of the preaching there had targeted Keyes to get him to “denounce his atheism.” But Gardner says the ceremony ended with Keyes raging against God.

OVERTON — Officials have ended a boil water notice in Overton. The notice was issued earlier this week after a city water pipe broke, leaving numerous citizens without water and forcing the early dismissal of local schools. Officials say the water is now safe to drink.

LONGVIEW — The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission this week confirmed agents are investigating a Longview bar after the fatal beating this summer of a man in the establishment’s parking lot. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, an investigation is underway for outstanding complaints filed with the agency against Lodge Sports Bar & Billiards. Sean Drake was beaten to death in the Lodge parking lot after closing July 12. This past month, Drake’s death was ruled a homicide, and police said the case would be referred to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office to determine if evidence will be presented to a grand jury.

KILGORE — Candice Mechell Andrade, 32, of Kilgore, was arrested Nov. 15 by Gregg County Sheriff’s Deputies on charges of bigamy. According to KETK, she was booked into the Gregg County Jail on a $5,000 bond. The grand jury indictment lists five men reportedly married to Andrade: B. Culp, S. Key, B. Keyser, E. Pepper and Q. Garza. Her trial date has not been set. Online records indicate a criminal history dating back to 2007 for charges including theft/stolen property and assault causing bodily injury.

KILGORE — Twenty-three students have graduated from the Kilgore College Fire Academy No. 85. The ceremony was held Thursday night in the Bert E. Woodruff Adult Education Center Auditorium in Kilgore.

The KC Fire Academy is accredited by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the State Firemen and Fire Marshal’s Association and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is also a designated institution by the Canadian Province of British Columbia.

The academy offers certification schools for NFPA 1001 Basic Structural Firefighter I and II certification, the Texas Volunteer certification, Fire Inspector and Fire and Arson Investigation courses.

The following candidates, listed by hometown, are part of KC Fire Academy No. 85:
Barrie, Ontario, Canada: Jeffery Keith Jones
Black Creek, B.C., Canada: Nicholas C. Gottfried
Borger: Taw Ray MCWilliams
Carthage: Jake Aaron Vanover
Gladewater: Brent L. Underwood
Hanna, Alberta, Canada: Robb S. David
Hughes Springs: Justin R. Riehemann and Tanner Mack Smith.
Kelowna, B.C., Canada: Max Carson Grayston
Kilgore: Cody Dean Sprayberry
Longview: Austin Moore and Johnny D. Villasenor.
Marshall: Gelvert M. Espinoza
Mesquite: Garrett Lee Millsap
Mineola: Jonathan L. Rodieck
N. Vancouver B.C. Canada: Jeffrey McCutcheon and Quinton Chad Rockhill.
Salmon Arm, B.C.: Blane C. Dalton and Brent Anthony Meszaros.
Whitehouse: Scott Michael Sanders
Wolfe City: Chaffin David Andrews, Bryan Samuel Dawson and Tyler Andrew Deary

TYLER — A Smith County deputy and his wife were booked into jail in late November for allegedly failing to report sexual assaults involving three different children. That’s according to KETK. On November 21, Texas Ranger Brent Davis was asked to investigate allegations of several sexual offenses that had been brought to the Smith County Sheriff’s Department’s attention by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. CPS reported they were made aware by an anonymous tipster, according to an arrest affidavit.

Authorities say Davis received a forensic Children’s Advocacy Center recording interview from November 20 of Victim #1 claiming the suspect, the child’s 15-year-old brother, had sexually assaulted them multiple times. On November 26, according to officials, Victim #2 told investigators they had also been assaulted by the same boy, the child’s step-brother, at the same Smith County address.

During the course of the investigation, the deputy and his wife stated in a document that the 15-year-old boy had admitted to sexually assaulting both children, along with a third sexual assault of another child on a school bus and grounds. On November 27, according to officials, the accused child admitted to Davis the sexual assaults at the deputy and his wife’s house and at school. All of the sexual assaults occurred in October and were not reported by the deputy or his wife to law enforcement or CPS, according to officials.

An arrest warrant was obtained and the couple was booked into the Smith County Jail on November 28. Both are charged with failure to report child abuse or neglect. The couple was released on $7,500 bail each. The names in this story were not released to protect the identity of the children involved.

TYLER — The Tyler Police and Smith County Sheriff’s Departments are seeking the whereabouts of Joshua Kyle Henderson, 33, of Flint. Henderson is wanted for burglary of a habitation in Tyler. According to police, he entered his ex-girlfriend’s residence and assaulted her while committing a theft. Henderson is also wanted for two counts of fraud in Smith County. Police believe that he is armed and dangerous.

Henderson was last seen driving a 2011 Silver Kia Sorento, Texas license plate BZ5W413. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Henderson, you are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, 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 arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this case or any felony case.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal law is about to get rid of a word, and the only House vote against the change came from an East Texan. The word is “lunatic,” the measure strikes it from federal law relating to construction, and it’s now on its way to the White House for president Obama’s signature. The House vote was 398-to-1, and that one vote came from Congressman Louie Gohmert of Tyler. Gohmert has issued a statement saying that “not only should we not eliminate the word `lunatic’ from federal law when the most pressing issue of the day is saving our country from bankruptcy; we should use the word to describe the people who want to continue with business as usual in Washington.”

LONGVIEW — With the Longview Salvation Army’s resources spread thin from its annual Red Kettle fundraising program, the local organization has suspended its daily community meal service as other nonprofit groups fill the gap. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Major Ernest Lozano, commanding officer at the Salvation Army post in Longview, said from the start of the Christmas kettle program until Jan. 2, the Salvation Army will not serve an evening meal to anyone other than residents the group is housing.

“If we are slightly diverted, it is because our focus is on that,” Lozano said. “I wish we had enough resources and volunteers to have the Red Kettle program and the outside meals. “We are still feeding those that live in our housing. We are still feeding about 50 people,” he added. “We had the outside meals for maybe 30 or 40, but the gentleman who coordinates the meals is coordinating our kettle effort.”

TYLER — Construction has been completed on the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital on the main Mother Frances campus and patient care begins December 15. In 2010, Louis and Peaches Owen of Tyler announced a record philanthropic donation of $18 million to Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler to help construct the area’s first freestanding heart hospital. Thursday, hospital officials gave members of the media a tour of the new facility, located at 703 South Fleishel.

The facility was constructed in two phases, with phase one opening in 2010 inside the Ornelas Tower, and phase two, the freestanding hospital, taking 18 months to complete. Officials said the new hospital includes state-of-the-art equipment, integrated electronic health record and a comprehensive cardiac team and staff, which are on par with other top heart hospitals in the country. The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital stands east of and adjacent to Mother Frances Hospital and connects to the main hospital in several locations, allowing specialists and clinical personnel to easily access both buildings. The hospital includes 72 new private patient rooms, a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, cardiac surgical suites and comprehensive cardiac, thoracic, vascular and pulmonary services.

“This is a historic day for the region and for the history of Trinity Mother Frances,” said Lindsey Bradley, FACHE, president, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics. “The first true cardiac care provided in Tyler was the Pacemaker Clinic at Mother Frances in the mid 1960’s. In 1983, the first cardiac bypass surgery was performed at Mother Frances Hospital and here we are almost 30 years later with an amazing heart hospital made possible by the generosity of the Owen family, to whom we are extremely grateful.” Officials said the public is invited to an open house

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Department of Public Safety troopers cleared the scene of a wreck Thursday morning. According to KETK, it happened near the intersection of FM 756 and FM 346 just before 7:00. No major injuries were reported in the rollover.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department has located Evelyn Gayle Yelverton of Marshall. They said she returned home safe Wednesday night. No word on where she had been. According to KETK, Yelverton has a medical condition that requires her to take medication on a daily basis, which she did not have in her possession.

REKLAW – One person has been killed and one injured in a one vehicle accident in Rusk County. It occurred shortly before 8:45 last night on Farm Road 839 North of Reklaw, Dead at the scene was a Houston man whose pickup left the road and overturned, throwing him from the vehicle. A passenger was injured. Their names have not been released.

Austin — Republican Senator Kevin Eltife of Tyler has filed a proposed constitutional amendment to impose term limits on statewide officeholders in Texas. The legislation would apply to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Land Commissioner, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commissioners and Attorney General, and would limit those officials to two consecutive terms.

I have always been a believer in term limits and feel that it allows for fresh ideas and perspectives in elected office,” said Senator Eltife. “I hope the other members of the Legislature will join me in allowing the voters of Texas to have a say on term limits for our statewide officeholders.”
If passed by the House and Senate, SJR 13 would be presented to the voters on November 5, 2013.

TYLER — Contractors for the City of Tyler will be making emergency repairs to a drainage structure located in the Woods Subdivision starting today. The street will be closed on Woods Boulevard between Rock Creek Drive and Brookview Court. According to city officials, citizens living east of Rock Creek Drive on Woods Boulevard should enter and exit the subdivision off of Old Omen Road onto Eastwood Drive to Winding Way then to Longleaf Drive to Woods Boulevard. Officials say more details about the length of construction time will be released as soon as the damage can be evaluated.

JACKSONVILLE — Judge Bill Parker of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tyler has ruled in favor of the Lon Morris College bankruptcy estate by giving interim approval for a $500,000 debtor-in-possession loan to help complete the sale of the school’s remaining assets. That’s according to KETK and a news release from the college. In addition, the bankruptcy court cleared the way for an asset auction in Dallas on Jan. 14, 2013, when the majority of the school’s campus will be sold. Parker denied attempts by the Texas Attorney General’s Office to prevent the bankruptcy estate from securing the debtor-in-possession loan, which will be used to cover insurance, utilities and similar expenses, in addition to paying the professionals who are working to increase the estate’s value.

“We are extremely pleased that the Court has approved this loan and cleared the way for what we believe will be a successful auction,” says Dawn Ragan, the chief restructuring officer for the school’s bankruptcy estate. “The loan approved [Wednesday] will help maximize the value of the estate as we work toward satisfying the school’s creditors, which include more than 100 former Lon Morris College employees who have not yet been paid for their work.”

“Today’s ruling means the bankruptcy court agrees with our position that this loan and the upcoming auction are the best options available to pay the college’s creditors by maximizing the value of the estate’s assets,” said Lon Morris attorney Hugh Ray III Wednesday. “Our goal is to make sure the creditors are paid what they’re owed, and everyone involved is working hard to make that happen.”

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested Alvin Dwain Jones, 56, of Tyler, on a charge of attempted sexual assault. Sunday morning around 6:30, a 56-year-old woman was taking her morning walk. Police say she was in the area of Old Bullard and Fair Lane when she was approached by a man on foot who started a conversation with her. According to authorities, the woman attempted to change her direction in order to separate herself from him, but he attacked her. Police say the suspect took the victim down to the ground and dragged her into a semi-wooded area of that neighborhood. The suspect was allegedly attempting to sexually assault her. She began fighting and screaming, and the suspect ran away, according to officials.

Officers were notified of the incident and searched the area. They located Jones in the area. He matched the description given by the woman. Officers say they confirmed he was the suspect in the case and arrested him. Officers say Jones, who is a registered sex offender, was transported to the Smith County Jail.

TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a person who they say is wanted for evading arrest. Police stopped an unknown woman for undisclosed reasons on Spur 248. Police say that when they confronted the woman in the vehicle, John Woods, who was reportedly in the passenger seat, exited the vehicle and fled the scene. Police say they canvassed the area but did not find Woods. KETK reports the unknown woman was taken into custody. If you have any information, you’re asked to contact the Tyler police.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested a man on a charge of attempted sexual assault. On Sunday, December 2, around 6:30 a.m., a 56-year-old woman was taking her morning walk. Police say she was in the area of Old Bullard and Fair Lane when she was approached by a man on foot who started a conversation with her. According to authorities, the woman attempted to change her direction in order to separate herself from him, but he attacked her. Police say the suspect took the victim down to the ground and dragged her into a semi-wooded area of that neighborhood. The suspect was allegedly attempting to sexually assault her. She began fighting and screaming, and the suspect ran away, according to officials.

Officers were notified of the incident and searched the area. They located a person in the area who matched the description given by the woman. Officers say they confirmed this person as the suspect in the case. They arrested Alvin Dwain Jones, 56, of Tyler. Officers were advised that Jones is a registered sex offender. He was transported to the Smith County Jail.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (AP/Staff) – Alaska State Troopers say a man who killed himself after confessing to multiple murders across the country died in his Anchorage jail cell after cutting a wrist and using bedding material to strangle himself. Troopers say the state medical examiner hasn’t determined what injury was the primary cause of Israel Keyes’ death. Keyes, who was arrested in Lufkin, was found dead in his cell Sunday morning. Blood-soaked papers that appeared to have writing on them also were found, and have been turned over to the FBI. Keyes was awaiting a March trial in the death of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig. Authorities say he abducted Koenig in February from the Anchorage coffee stand where she worked. Investigators say Keyes sexually assaulted Koenig and strangled her, then left her body in a shed while he went on a cruise. They say he dismembered the body when he returned two weeks later.

LONGVIEW — A group representing an injured East Texas officer is speaking out after the City of Longview decided to fire to her. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas sent KETK a release to inform the public of Officer Leigh Ann Snyder’s termination. Snyder, who CLEAT says is a long time Longview police officer, was critically hurt in a wreck involving an alleged drunk driver on December 11, 2011. Her patrol car, which had a passenger, was hit head on that morning in the 5000 block of West Loop 281 between Birdsong St. and Sabine St. Emergency crews had to use the “jaws of life” to remove her from the near fatal crash. Ramon Antonio Dominguez, 23, of Longview, was arrested and charged with two counts of intoxicated assault. His bond was set at $100,000.

Since the crash, Snyder has undergone multiple surgeries and has been unable to return to duty to due to her injuries. She spent four weeks in a local hospital before she was released. CLEAT claims Snyder requested similar, light-duty assignment that had been offered to other injured officers in the past, but was denied. The Longview Police Officers Association held multiple fundraisers and set up a personal donation account to help raise money for Snyder earlier this year.

Due to a Longview rule that states officers must return to duty within one year, Snyder will be terminated on December 11, 2012. Her representatives say this would not be possible in Tyler, Texarkana, or Marshall because of protection provided under the rules of civil service. Leaders with the LPOA have met with the city manager and other police officials asking for an exception to be made to the rule, but city leaders have not changed their decision. According to CLEAT, no court date has been set for Dominguez, but judicial records show him set to enter a guilty plea on January 11, 2013.

WINONA — While the Keystone XL Pipeline has fueled a bitter battle among industry, landowners, and environmentalists across East Texas, people living alongside the ruckus in Smith County voiced indifference Tuesday, to the pipeline and the protesters it has drawn from across the country. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The construction has sparked protests in Franklin, Wood, and Nacogdoches counties and drew national attention when actress Darryl Hannah was arrested in Wood County. Three people, all from out of state, were arrested Monday outside Winona after they crawled inside a section of pipe to stall work on the $7 billion project that will carry crude oil from Canada to the Texas coast.

But people who live east of Winona, near where the arrests took place, watched the events with detachment and disinterest. Ross Prince said he’s lived in his house on County Road 363 for 33 years, and he voiced support for the pipeline. Linda Lane, who also lives on CR 363, said neighbors had to tell her people had been arrested less than a mile up the road. The only consistent complaint from homeowners along CR 363 was about the out-of-town protesters.

Glen Scott David Collins, 25, of New Orleans; Matthew Aaron Almonte, 21 of Lithia, Fla.; and Isabel Indingo Brooks, 20, of Portland, Ore., were the three arrested Monday, accused of sitting in a piece of the pipeline until removed by authorities. All three out-of-state protesters had been released Tuesday from the Smith County Jail. “I don’t approve of them coming here to protest,” Prince said. Not everyone disapproved, though. Tina Osby voiced gratitude to the pipeline opponents. She said they had made her aware of potential problems with the pipeline so near her home.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Fire Marshall’s office said Dixie, Flint-Gresham, Whitehouse and Smith County crews responded to a house fire in the 12,500 block of County Road 1113, Lake Placid Road, just outside of Tyler. It happened just before 10:00 Tuesday night. Investigators believe the fire started in the carport. The two homeowners were reportedly taken to the hospital for injuries. Officials said half of the house was destroyed in that blaze.

OVERTON — A water line break in Overton has been keeping crews busy and the city has now issued a boil water notice, in effect until further notice. Officials said six feet of ten-inch pipeline would have to be replaced. Overton ISD students were released early Wednesday due to the problem. The water system has been failing to provide water to the east side, where the school district is located, according to Overton officials. KETK reports water supply was cut off at around 3:00 Wednesday morning, when the six foot pipe split. Due to the water outage, students were dismissed at 11:00.

NACOGDCOHES — Two Nacogdoches men are in custody in connection with a pair of armed robberies that occurred in Nacogdoches on November 25th. Denzel Neal, 19 and Christopher Elmore, 20, both of Nacogdoches, were arrested on December 1st by the Austin Texas Police Department on warrants from Nacogdoches for Aggravated Robbery. Both are charged in the robbery of the Holiday Inn on South Street and the Shell Station at 1000 East Main.

Both robberies occurred on the night of November 25th, within an hour of each other. Charges are pending on the two for the November 18th burglary of a grocery store in the 100 block of Beall Street, where the building was forcibly entered and cigarettes were taken. The two men are suspects in several other crimes in East Texas, but have not been formally charged. Nacogdoches Police Detectives identified the suspects from video tape footage from one of the robberies.

Warrants were obtained, and a tip to Nacogdoches Crime Stoppers led the investigation to Austin, where the two were arrested. NPD Detectives traveled to Austin yesterday and transported the two back to Nacogdoches, where they were placed in the county jail. In addition to the NPD and Austin Police, Agents with the Texas DPS Criminal Law Enforcement Division, Region 7 Headquarters assisted in the investigation.

TYLER — A bicyclist was injured Tuesday evening after he was hit by a truck in Tyler. It happened around 5:15 at the intersection of Loop 323 and Driftwood Lane. According to KETK, when emergency crews arrived on scene, they found a man trapped underneath the truck. Officials said he was removed safely and did not suffer major injuries.

The victim was taken by medical personnel to a local hospital. His current condition is unknown. Witnesses tell KETK, it appeared the driver of the truck was at fault. Police are investigating the incident.

PALESTINE (AP) — Testing of a nearly three-mile section of track to link the tourist attraction Texas State Railroad to commercial Union Pacific Railroad has been postponed.

Texas State Railroad officials say Tuesday’s scheduled testing will be rescheduled within the next week. Spokeswoman Janet Gregg says the railroad’s information was not yet entered into UP’s dispatching computers.

UP spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza says there were some mechanical issues with a Texas State Railroad locomotive.

Backers hope the connection in Palestine will help lead to short-haul freight contracts and new revenue. The last time the route was used commercially was by the Texas South Eastern Railroad in 1969.

Gregg says her organization this fall cleared and upgraded what had been 2.8 miles of abandoned track in an effort to link with UP’s yard.