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TYLER — A Tyler jury has returned a verdict of 10 years in prison after hearing evidence in the case of the State of Texas vs. Jeffery Wright. Wright, 34, was charged with possession of cocaine in a quantity of less than one gram at the Lone Star Inn on West Gentry Parkway last November. The arrest was made by the Tyler Police Department after investigation of a complaint made against Wright by another occupant of the motel. According to the Smith County DA’s Office, jurors deliberated for less than 20 minutes before returning a verdict of guilty. They later sentenced Wright to the maximum prison term after hearing evidence that Wright was a five-time convicted felon.

TYLER – A 40-year-old Quitman man has been sentenced to prison for federal violations in east Texas. Daniel Huffman, also known as Steven Ball, pleaded guilty February 10 to making a false statement on a loan application. He was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Huffman was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $196,028.52. According to information presented in court, on January 23, 2012, Huffman applied for a mortgage loan under the false name of Steven Ball. Huffman was indicted by a federal grand jury last October and charged with federal violations.

HOUSTON (AP) – The state’s top criminal appeals court has agreed to review whether a former East Texas nurse was properly convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole for killing five dialysis patients by injecting them with bleach. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said Wednesday it will consider written arguments on whether the jury instructions at Kimberly Saenz’s 2012 trial failed to require a unanimous agreement on which individuals Saenz killed at a clinic in Lufkin. Saenz’s attorneys argue a jury must unanimously agree on the identity and the number of murder victims to support the capital murder charge. A lower appeals court earlier this year upheld her conviction and sentence. The Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately could order a new trial for Saenz.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – Investigators say an East Texas man has died after apparently being struck by lightning while outside his home. The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim as Hank Wiederhold, 60, of Nacogdoches. Sheriff Jason Bridges says Widerhold’s body was discovered last Friday in his backyard near a tree. The victim had a burn mark on his midsection. Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom prior to Wiederhold being found dead.

Tyler ISD announced the 2014 Teachers of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet held Tuesday night at the Harvey Convention Center. The District honored Campus Teachers of the Year before naming Beverly McRae as Elementary Teacher of the Year and Jennifer Sheffield as Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Ms. McRae is the reading intervention teacher for kindergarten through fifth grade at Owens Elementary School and believes that the greatest blessing of her teaching career has been the students who have given her abundant joy through their smiles, laughter, and fun. According to McRae, “I am just so proud to be a teacher. I have loved teaching my entire career. And it’s really a tribute to the students who have given me love, and I have felt every moment of their love.” She said, “It isn’t a career, it is my life calling.” Continue reading Tyler’s Teachers of the Year Named

WASKOM — A boy reported missing in Harrison County has been found safe. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office had asked for the public’s assistance in locating Chance Coleson, 17. They report he was found several hours after going missing, and they thank the public for its assistance. The teen is diagnosed as mildly autistic and wandered from his home in Waskom. His mother stated he had wandered previously and was located in Greenwood, Louisiana. The family is in this area while on a work assignment and staying in an RV park on I-20 in Waskom. The family home is in Vinton, Louisiana.

TYLER – The Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority has decided to raise speed limits on Tyler’s Toll Loop 49 will rise to 75 mph from Texas 155 to Interstate 20. Authority Director Everett Owen said, “It won’t be effective till we get the signs made and posted.” That will probably occur in a matter of weeks. Owen citing driver complaints of getting stuck behind slow moving vehicles on the one-lane highway, also set minimum speeds 10mph lower for that segment and from Texas 110 to Texas 155.

TYLER — Dr. Kouider Mokhtari has received the 2014 John C. Manning Public School Service Award from the International Reading Association. Mokhtari serves as the Anderson-Vukelja-Wright Endowed Professor of Education within the UT Tyler School of Education and chair of the Tyler Area Partnership for Literacy. “I’m honored to be recognized by students, public school leaders and literacy professionals for the work I have done to promote and support literacy at the university school and community levels,” Mokhtari said. “I am also honored to join a prestigious group of international literacy experts who have contributed in meaningful and significant ways to advancing literacy within schools and communities around the world.” Continue reading UT Tyler Education Professor Earns International Service Award

TYLER — BBB has received reports from consumers regarding a recent telephone scam. Individuals are being contacted by telephone under the pretense that the callers are attempting to collect money for hot checks which were written several years ago. Residents are further advised that if they do not wire money (hundreds to thousands of dollars) to a provided account number, law enforcement will come out and arrest them in the upcoming days. The callers are purportedly calling from 866 area codes and indicate they are a collection firm representing the Hot Check Division of various District Attorneys’ offices. Law enforcement may make a courtesy call to notify that a claim has been made, said Andy Dunklin, Constable with Precinct 2 of Smith County. “They may collect fines, however, they will never collect the amount of the hot check.” Continue reading Residents Warned about Telephone Scam

LONGVIEW — A dog who was recently treated in Tyler for an embedded collar has been adopted on the eve of his euthanization, according to an official with the Humane Society of Northeast Texas. Our news partner KETK reports Nickolas’s new home will be south of Nacogdoches. According to the The Humane Society, Nickolas was in danger of being euthanized after not being fostered or adopted. Officials say the Humane Society shelter is full due to the storms from Monday night, and until late Tuesday afternoon, Nickolas had yet to be adopted or fostered to keep him out of the shelter. Nickolas was scheduled to be euthanized at noon Tuesday, but after a call from KETK, the euthanization was put on hold until 8:00 this morning. Now it won’t be necessary at all.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is attempting to locate a critical missing adult identified as Barbara Wooten. She is a black female, age 55, who stands 5’5″ tall, weighs140 pounds and wears glasses. Wooten was reported missing on May 5, 2014 by a family member. Wooten was last observed at her residence located at 310 Fairway Avenue in Tyler. Investigators have been told that she is diagnosed with a mental disorder and no foul play is suspected at this time. Wooten’s vehicle was found in her garage and her residence secured. If you have any information about her whereabouts please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

WASKOM — The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Chance Coleson, 17. According to KETK, he is diagnosed as mildly autistic and wandered from his home in Waskom. Coleson is described by his mother as 5’8”, 170 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. His mother stated he had wandered previously and was located in Greenwood, Louisiana. Continue reading Harrison County Authorities Searching for Autistic Teen

TYLER — The man found guilty of killing Chapel Hill native Christopher Mass in the Tyler mall parking lot has been sentenced to life in prison by a Smith County jury. Ricky Neal Jr. was found guilty of murder on May 7. He will be up for parole in 30 years, according to Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham. The verdict stems from the shooting death of Mass on February 9, 2013. In addition to the murder charge, authorities placed an additional charge against Neal after police determined he shot at Jonathan Lamone Dews, 29, of Tyler. The aggravated assault charge will be tried separately. Continue reading Mall Parking Lot Shooter Gets Life in Prison

TYLER — Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass is leaving office after serving the maximum three two-year terms. She is the city’s first female mayor, elected in May of 2008. She’s been very active in the community since moving to Tyler in the 70s. Bass told KETK, “It has just been a tremendous place to live, to get engaged. You meet the other people who care about Tyler that are out there trying to do the same thing — and it’s just been a fabulous journey.” Mayor-elect Martin Heines will be sworn in March 21st.

CHAPEL HILL – Sheriff Larry Smith will hold a town hall meeting tonight from 6:00 until 7:30 at the Chapel Hill High School Cafeteria, located on Highway 64 East. The town hall meeting will be his seventh since taking office in January of 2013. Four were held last year and two so far this year, in Whitehouse and Lindale. Smith said a town hall meeting is also scheduled for May 22 at the New Harmony Community Center.

LUFKIN (AP) – NRG Energy Services has been granted the right to operate the Aspen Power biomass power plant in East Texas for at least a year while the unit is marketed to potential buyers. The Lufkin Daily News reports Monday’s court ruling means the facility in Lufkin could reopen within a month. The Aspen Power plant was marketed as the state’s first wood-waste biomass electricity generation facility. The 57-megawatt power plant opened in 2011 but has been idle since August 2012 amid challenging market conditions. Michael Fisco represents U.S. Bank, the trustee for the $53 million in bonds owed by Aspen Power. Fisco told a judge that granting management rights to Houston-based NRG and restarting the plant would increase its value and take advantage of an improved electricity market.

TYLER – Tyler ISD will honor Campus Teachers of the Year and announce its 2014 District Teachers of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet at Harvey Convention Center tonight. The banquet will be sponsored by the Cooperative Teachers Credit Union. “The Teacher of the Year Banquet is always a fun event that highlights the amazingly talented teachers we have on our campuses,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Gary Mooring said. “This year’s banquet will be even more successful due to the sponsorship from the Cooperative Teachers Credit Union.” Suzette Warren, spokesperson for the credit union, said, “Cooperative Teachers Credit Union is honored to be the sponsor of the 2014 Teacher of the Year event. It is a privilege to be able to celebrate and express our continued commitment to the Tyler ISD educators Continue reading TISD Teachers to be Honored Tonight

KILGORE — Some area school officials are ready to get back to normal Wednesday after the rough weather affected their districts. Kilgore ISD classes were delayed until 10 Tuesday morning due to a power outage, while Leverett’s Chapel dismissed classes at 10:15. Arp ISD had a noon class dismissal time Tuesday. Rusk ISD cancelled all classes for the day due to a power outage.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and his re-election opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, made a joint appearance in Little Rock at a pipe manufacturer to call for the impasse on the Keystone XL Pipeline to end. On Monday, Cotton and Pryor visited Welspun Corp. at the Port of Little Rock, which has 358 miles of pipe sitting outside an idle factory, waiting for the Keystone Pipeline to win approval. The company has another manufacturing site that’s operating but has more than 200 workers currently laid off. The U.S. House has approved building the pipeline and Pryor says he’s working with a bipartisan group in the Senate and hopes the matter will come to a vote as soon as this week. President Barack Obama has blocked work on the line. A portion of the pipeline is scheduled to run through eastern Smith County.

LINDALE — The Lindale City Council will hold a Called Meeting on Tuesday, May 20, at 4:30pm at Lindale City Hall to introduce the new manager for the City of Lindale. Following interviews last Thursday, the Council offered the position to Craig Lindholm, currently employed with the City of Texarkana. Lindholm currently serves Texarkana as Executive Director managing four departments, including Grant Development and Management, Commercial and Residential Redevelopment, Environmental Services, Texarkana-Bowie County Health Department, and Public Transit, as well as overseeing seven non-profit organizations funded by the city. He served as the President/CEO of Lindholm Management, Inc., for eight years, providing management consultation on community planning and development, and grants for governmental and non-profit sector. Continue reading Lindale Getting a New City Manager

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA (AP) — Army officials say an Alaska-based paratrooper from Texas has died in a traffic accident northeast of Anchorage. U.S. Army Alaska officials say in a release that Spc. Shawn N. Bounds, 23, of Tyler, Texas, died early Saturday morning when his vehicle rolled in the public use area of the Knik River. He was transported by emergency responders to a hospital in nearby Palmer, where he was pronounced dead just after 4:00am. The Army says the fire support specialist was assigned to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at the Anchorage base on October 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan from December 2011 to September 2012. He joined the Army in May 2011. Alaska State Troopers are investigating the fatal accident.

TYLER — Three burglary suspects have turned themselves in to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Smith County Sheriff’s Office Detective Aaron Hinton said that Broderick Darrnell Willis, 18, and Payton Joseph Raymond, both of Flint and Austin Michael Drain, 19, of Tyler are now in custody. Willis turned himself in Monday morning. The other two suspected turned themselves into authorities last Thursday. They were wanted in connection with a number of burglaries in the Southwest portion of the county. Investigators said Willis is wanted on a $75,000 warrant for theft of a firearm; Raymond is wanted on a $100,000 warrant for burglary of a habitation; and Drain is wanted on a $75,000 warrant for burglary of a habitation. Continue reading Three Smith Burglary Suspects in Custody

MARSHALL – One person has died in a weekend fire in Marshall. It was reported Sunday afternoon in the in the 2300 block of Sledge Street. The Longview News-Journal reports Harrison County Justice of the Peace Nancy George said officials believe the victim is Richard Esley Weekly, 47. Firefighters began looking for the victim when neighbors said they didn’t think anyone had gotten out. His body was found in the charred ruble of the home. No word on what caused the fire.

TYLER — During their upcoming meeting on May 13, the Tyler City Council will consider a recommendation for an incentive payable to Trane/Ingersoll Rand for jobs created as a result of moving a business line from Mexico to the Tyler plant, according to a news release from the City of Tyler. “We had an opportunity to bring a small product line that had been manufactured in Monterey, Mexico back to Tyler,” said Trane Plant Manager Ted Crabtree. “This was an excellent opportunity for us to stabilize the seasonality of our workforce by more fully loading our build lines.” Continue reading Incentives Offered to Tyler Company to Create Jobs

GREGG COUNTY — An alleged act of family violence turned into an arrest for an East Texas man Saturday night. According to the Longview Police Department, Mark Lindsey Owens, 39, of Longview, was jailed over the weekend after authorities say he strangled a family member. The relative’s identity and the relationship to Owens is unknown at this time.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested after trying to falsely claim a lottery prize in Smith County. According to the Longview Police Department, Douglas Levi Brow, 57, was booked into the Gregg County Jail Saturday on charges of trying to falsely claim winnings from a lottery ticket.

WINONA – The woman who drowned in northeastern Smith County has been identified. Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger tells KTBB the victim is Christy Dennis, 41, of Tyler. The accident happened shortly after 5:15 Sunday afternoon in a private pond located in the 13500 block of Highway 155 near Winona. A caller told authorities the woman jumped into the water to swim. After a few moments of swimming, she called for help and went under water. Smith County sheriff’s deputies were joined by game wardens of the Texas Parks and Wildlife, Winona Fire Department, Noonday Fire Department, and the Smith County dive team. Her body was recovered around 7:00 Sunday night. Judge Shamburger has ordered an autopsy.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in Smith County by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 756 west of Whitehouse between Farm Road 346 and Maji Road. Once that work is complete, crews are scheduled to perform similar work in various locations on Farm Road 2813 between Tall Timbers Road and U.S. Highway 69, and on Farm Road 346 between US 69 and Farm Road 2964 (Rhone’s Quarter Road) near Whitehouse. Elsewhere, crews will be building a crossover on State Highway 31 near the River Bridge between Farm Road 2661 and Chandler. 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. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

EAST TEXAS – Voters made their choices Saturday in municipal and independent school district elections around East Texas. In the city of Tyler, Martin Heines won a resounding victory over Joel Rando in the race for mayor. Heines (pictured) says he’s “very gratified” with the outcome. Emphasizing the city’s financial stability, Heines says he plans to keep Tyler on its current path. But in campaign visits with residents, he says he heard another important message on which he intends to follow through: that locals are concerned with streets and traffic enhancement. Continue reading Local Elections Held Saturday; Heines Elected Mayor

LUFKIN (AP) – Guns believed used in the slayings of an East Texas couple earlier this year have been recovered from a pond not far from the home where four of the people charged in the case lived. A defense lawyer in the case says Cameron Westfall, 18, led authorities to the weapons believed used to kill Nathan Maddox, 34, of Zavalla and his wife, Krystal, 30. Westfall, his parents and sister are charged in the January slayings in front of a church near Colmesneil in Tyler County. They’ve all pleaded not guilty. The couple was ambushed while on a court-allowed visit with Nathan Maddox’s 5-year-old daughter who had been living with the Westfall family. Beaumont attorney Jonathan Stovall tells The Lufkin Daily News the weapons could be the strongest evidence against the family.