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NEW SUMMERFIELD (AP/Staff) – Four Palestine men were killed when the car in which they were riding slammed into another vehicle and a semi-truck while on the wrong side of a Cherokee County highway. The DPS says the crash happened just before 8:00 Saturday morning on U.S. Highway 79, 1.4 miles south of New Summerfield. Cherokee County Constable Eddie Lee says the vehicle with the four people in it was on the wrong side of the road when it sideswiped a sport utility vehicle and slammed head-on into the truck. No other injuries were reported.

The dead are identified as driver Michael Estrada, Christian Chavez, Jaime Benitez, and Saul Mancera. All died at the scene. All were 24 years of age except Mancera, who was 22. The DPS says Chavez was the only one wearing a seatbelt. According to KETK, Highway Patrol Officer Steven Crosby said it appeared that Estrada fell asleep. The highway was closed for almost nine hours as officials cleaned the area of debris and oil.

LUFKIN — A car-pedestrian accident in Angelina County has killed a Nacogdoches man. Pronounced dead at the scene was Jayson Wayne Moore, 36. He died after being hit by a pickup pulling a boat. It’s not known why Moore was in the roadway. The accident happened around 6:45 Sunday morning on State Highway 103 East.

MARSHALL — In 71st State District Court in Marshall, jury selection gets underway in the murder trial of Charles Ray Owens Jr., 37, of Longview. He was involved in a traffic accident in November, 2010, in which Robert Smith, 62, of Longview was killed. The Department of Public Safety reports Owens was fleeing from a state trooper when his car ran through a stop sign and crashed into Smith’s vehicle. The officer had been trying to stop Owens for speeding. The accident occurred at the Intersection of Loop 281 and Paige Road, on the Harrison County side of Longview.

SMITH COUNTY — Noonday, Dixie, and Flint fire departments were called to put out a vehicle fire that sparked Sunday afternoon in Smith County. The fire started just after noon inside the garage at a home in the 13000 block of County Road 1113. The homeowner tells KETK he was welding on the vehicle when the fire first started; however, Noonday Fire Lieutenant Kevin Londoff says they are still investigating the cause of the fire. The fire did not damage the house, but the garage was heavily damaged. No injuries were reported.

JACKSONVILLE — Authorities arrested one person in a Jacksonville gambling raid Friday. Officers took into custody Saeed Oehme, 58, of Jacksonville, for allegedly keeping a gambling place in the 1200 block of West Rusk Street at D C Wholesale Supply Company, according to the Jacksonville Police Department. KETK reports one person was playing on a gaming machine when the arrest happened but was later released. On Thursday, police became aware of the alleged infraction after responding to a disturbance around 1 p.m. The responding officer took photos of slot machines inside and returned the next morning with a search and arrest warrant.

Authorities confiscated 15 video slots gambling machines. Six were found up front and nine in a back room. The suspect had a $500 house limit, according to police. Oehme, who lives at the store, has owned the business for five years. He was placed in the Jacksonville Police Department Jail pending transfer to the Cherokee County Jail Saturday.

BULLARD — Smith County is continuing to seek public input and priorities from citizens on all county related services and issues, and that includes a get-together tonight. It’s a Precinct 1 Community Input Meeting (in conjunction with the Bullard City Council Meeting) at 6:30pm at Bullard City Hall.

Commissioners are holding a series of community meetings to encourage public input, information and ideas concerning county services. You can also go to the Smith County Website — http://www.smith-county.com — for a short questionnaire that’s included in the Public Input Project. County officials plan to use the information gathered during the Public Input Project for the upcoming budget year and in long-term comprehensive planning. A countywide meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 9th, at 6:00pm. at 304 East Ferguson.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — Nacogdoches County authorities Thursday night busted two people allegedly traveling with mobile meth labs. According to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle with two passengers was stopped on County Road 405 in the Melrose community. During the traffic stop, both the man and woman inside appeared nervous and gave conflicting statements, according to officials. Authorities say they asked for consent to search the vehicle and discovered 25 plastic bottles that were being used to make methamphetamine. Other chemicals that are used to produce methamphetamine were also found inside of the vehicle, according to officials. Sheriff Jason Bridges stated this method is growing in popularity, as it makes it easy to hide and produce meth.

Deputies also allegedly found a half gram of crystal meth inside the vehicle along with methamphetamine oil and several other chemicals that have not been identified at this time. KETK reports the Drug Enforcement Administration was dispatched to the scene and helped with the disposal of hazardous chemicals. Kevin King, 27, and Christie King, 28, both from Melrose, were taken into custody and booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail. Kevin King was charged with possession of certain chemicals, possession of controlled substance, possession of marijuana and a warrant for theft. Christie King was charged with possession of certain chemicals, possession of controlled substance, and possession of marijuana.

TYLER — Tyler’s 54th Azalea and Spring Flower Trail continues after getting underway Friday. This year’s event runs through April 7, featuring ten miles of azaleas, dogwoods, and other spring blooms, along with a host of activities. You can go to http://www.visittyler.com/ for much more information.

SMITH COUNTY – Beginning as early as Wednesday this week, Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews are scheduled to make pavement repairs in various locations on Interstate Highway 20 between U.S. Highway 69 and Farm Road 14. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

TYLER — Emergency crews headed to the scene of a major accident in Tyler, where a car crashed through a local business. Shortly before 3:45 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to 1900 block of ESE Loop 323 near the intersection of Paluxy Drive. KETK reports the car drove through the entrance of Kool Smiles, a children’s dentistry. Luckily, no one was injured in the accident. The vehicle’s owner claims he was not in the car at the time of the crash, but had started the vehicle with his wireless remote. The man believes that his after-market remote is defective. The device was bought just a few weeks ago. The owner claims his parking brake was engaged when the car was started.

TYLER — The Wings of Freedom Tour of the WWII Vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, North American P-51 Mustang, German Me 262 fighter jet, and Huey Helicopter remains at Tyler’s Historic Aviation Memorial Museum through today. In honor of WWII veterans, the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour brings an extremely rare bomber and fighter aircraft for the local living history display as Part of a 110-city Nationwide Tour.

The B-17 is one of only 8 in flying condition in the United States; the B-24J and Full Dual Control P-51C Mustang are the sole remaining examples of their type flying in the World. The Me 262 is a very rare flying replica aircraft with what’s termed unparalleled authenticity from the original legendary WWII German jet. The legendary Huey is flying in honor of Vietnam veterans. Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out. $15 for adults and $8 for children under 12 is requested for access to up-close viewing and tours through the inside of the aircraft; that includes entrance to the museum.

Visitors may also experience what’s termed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft. Flights on either the B-17 or B-24 are $425 per person. P-51 flights are $2,200 for a half hour and $3,200 for a full hour. Flights in the Huey are $80 bench / $100 front. Me 262 flights are available; certain prerequisites are required. For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924.

The Wings of Freedom Tour arrived at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport at 2:00pm on March 15 and will be on display at the museum until the aircraft departs today after 5:00pm. Hours of ground tours and display are 9:00am through 5:00pm. The 30-minute flight experiences are normally scheduled before and after the ground tour times.

TYLER — Tyler Transit is renaming the Red 1A Route. Effective April 1, it’ll be called the #5 Purple Route. City officials say the move was made to lessen confusion regarding the Red Routes that travel north and south on Broadway Avenue and through the Medical District. The #5 Purple Route will still travel through the Medical District on Beckham Avenue. It will also keep the same bus stops and bus stop times. The only change will be the number and color of the route. For additional information or questions regarding this route or any other bus route within the Tyler Transit System, you can contact Tyler Transit at (903) 533-8057, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

TYLER — The East Texas Medical Center Cancer Institute now offers the most advanced generation of cancer radiotherapy, called TrueBeam. ETMC officials say it provides more noninvasive options for treating complex cases in the lung, liver, prostate, breast, abdomen, head and neck. “The TrueBeam system is faster, more precise and safer than previous generations of radiotherapy,” said Dr. Heidi McKellar, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of the ETMC Cancer Institute.

The TrueBeam uses volumetric-modulated arc therapy or VMAT, in which the device rotates around the patient to deliver radiation beams. At the same time, the radiation is computer-synchronized to compensate for the movements of the patient’s breathing, ensuring that the beam reaches only the targeted tumor. “The precision is measured in increments of less than a millimeter and accuracy checks are performed every 10 milliseconds throughout treatment,” said Blas Caroprese, PhD, chief medial physicist for the ETMC Cancer Institute. “This allows us to treat a moving tumor as if it were standing still, and reduce the margin of healthy tissue affected by the treatment beam.”

The TrueBeam system can deliver treatments up to 50 percent faster, which adds to patient comfort, according to officials. An ETMC news release says intelligent automation further speeds treatments with up to a five-fold reduction in the number of steps needed for imaging, positioning and treating patients. “A standard intensity-modulated treatment that would typically take 10 minutes can be completed in 2 minutes; making this process easier for the patient,” said Dr. McKellar. For more information about TrueBeam, visit http://www.etmc.org or contact the ETMC Cancer Institute at 903-595-5550.

TROUP — Troup is now the latest city in East Texas to use the Code Red notification service. Mayor John Whitsell tells KETK that in a time of an emergency or a situation when city officials need to warn their citizens, this is the fastest way to keep their residents safe and informed. Whitsell says the system can warn residents if a tornado is coming, if someone is missing — or even about something as simple as the trash being collected a day late. It’s up to the city’s discretion what officials would like to send out to the public. The system sends out a Code Red message to a home phone or via text message or email with details on what to do or what the problem is. The program does not cost the public or the cities a dime. The service is completely funded by the Smith County 911 Communications District. The city of Tyler adopted Code Red in 2007.

NACOGDOCHES — A man was beaten and his wallet taken during a robbery in Nacogdoches Thursday night. KETK reports it happened just after 9:00 at an apartment complex on the 3100 block of EJ Campbell Blvd. The victim told police that three men approached him outside the apartment building. The men used their hands and feet to beat the victim, and took his wallet, which included some cash and personal papers. The victim had bruising on his face and a laceration on his head from the assault. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but his condition is not known at this time. The robbers are described as black males, between 15-20 years of age.

TYLER – A 43-year-old Tyler methadone clinic owner has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty last December to attempted arson and solicitation of murder for hire. Edward Jacobs was sentenced to 188 months Thursday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to federal prosecutors, on March 19, 2012, Jacobs gave Daniel Kubisty $3,000 to burn down the Add-Life Recovery Center, a methadone clinic located in a building at 3322 East Fifth Street in Tyler. Jacobs and Kubisty conspired to burn down the building in order to gain a competitive advantage for the Methadone Clinic of East Texas, which was owned by Jacobs and 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 his pickup.

After Kubisty’s arrest, Jacobs feared Kubisty would testify against him, and on June 1, 2012, he arranged a meeting with a man he believed he could hire to murder Kubisty in order to prevent Kubisty’s testimony. During the meeting, Jacobs offered to pay the hit-man $12,000 for Kubisty’s murder. ATF was monitoring the meeting and arrested Jacobs at the scene. Kubisty pleaded guilty to attempted arson on January 19, 2013 and is awaiting sentencing.

LONGVIEW — Three people accused of killing a Longview man have been indicted by an Upshur County grand jury. Sarah Haslam, 20, Daniel Jones, 19, and Andrew Conrad Norwine are charged with kidnapping and taking the life of Ronnie Joe Gammage (pictured), 27, according to District Attorney Billy Byrd. KETK reports Haslam and Jones were arrested December 19 and charged with aggravated kidnapping and murder. Norwine was captured in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, on December 25. The trio is being held on $1.3 million bail.

SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County home just west of Tyler has been destroyed by fire. The house on O’Neall Street caught fire around 10:00 yesterday morning according to Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton. After putting out the blaze, fire officials learned the homeowner had extinguished a fire earlier near an electric stove. KETK reports the second fire was spotted when a neighbor alerted the resident that his garage was ablaze. Officials believe the flames sparked near a breaker box and spread to the home.

A couple and their grandchild were able to escape without injury. Firefighters saved one pet from the home. Authorities will continue to investigate the incident.

TYLER — Tyler Police have are trying to find the man who robbed the Super Food Mart, 2030 West Gentry Parkway. It happened just after 11:00 Wednesday night. Police say a man entered the store and indicated he had a weapon. He took an undetermined amount of cash. He was last seen leaving the store on foot. The suspect was described as an older black man wearing a black shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF. 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 44-year-old San Bernardino, California, man has been sentenced in Tyler to 43 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Reginald Lavann Eastern pleaded guilty on August 30, 2012, and was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. According to information presented in court, on March 4, 2012, Eastern was in possession of approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine which he intended to deliver to others in the Eastern District of Texas. Authorities say distribution was in the Canton area.

TYLER – A 49-year-old Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Brett Bates pleaded guilty on March 14, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced in Tyler yesterday to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

Federal prosecutors say, up until May 27, 2011, Bates conspired with other individuals to acquire and distribute methamphetamine in the Gregg County area. Bates admitted to being responsible for the distribution of more than 150 grams of methamphetamine during this time. Bates was named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury on November 2, 2011.

Five of Bates’ co-defendants have also been sentenced. Terri Rhea Young received a sentence of 24 months in federal prison on July 23, 1012. David Christopher Wheeler and Raelene Dawn Ferguson were each sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on July 20, 2012. Matthew Dean Willis was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on June 12, 2012. Harold Burgess Dickens received a 210 month sentence on Jan. 10, 2013.

TYLER — A 50-year-old Athens man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations. Frankie Darrell Durant pleaded guilty on January 8, 2013, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison Thursday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. According to officials, on July 26, 2011, three firearms were located in a storage room in Smith County which was being rented by Durant. Further investigation revealed Durant was a convicted felon, having been previously been found guilty of possession of a controlled substance. As a convicted felon, Durant is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Durant was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2012.

TYLER – The Great Texas Warrant Round Up in Smith County topped $80,000 in reclaimed court fines and fees. It also closed out 390 outstanding cases during the two-week campaign. Smith County joined forces with more than 300 other jurisdictions across Texas to participate in the largest joint warrant round up in the state. Anyone who owed a court fine or fee in one of the participating districts had until March 2 to pay before officers were dispatched to find and arrest them.

Smith County Judicial Compliance Supervisor Sheryl Keel says her phones started ringing as soon as the Round Up began. It took the combined efforts of the Justice of the Peace courts, County Clerk’s office, the Sheriff’s office, Constables’ offices, Pre-Trial Release and outside collections law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott working together to coordinate this large-scale collection, she said. “We made great efforts to contact everyone who owes a court fee in Smith County, and encouraged them to pay their fines before they experienced the embarrassment of being picked up by law enforcement officers at their work or home,” she said.

Anyone owing an outstanding fine in Smith County was sent a notice in February. They were offered a chance to pay their balance without penalty of arrest before March 2. Officials say the program was a great success for the taxpayers of Smith County. “We recaptured $80,000 that belongs to the citizens of this County,” Smith County Judge Joel Baker said.

Keel said that the Round Up may be over but that her office, the Smith County Warrants Division and the Sheriff’s office work every day to track down and collect from those who owe the County. There are still many cases to close, she said. Check to see if you or someone you know owes unpaid court costs or fines online at http://www.smith-county.com or by calling the Smith County Collections Department at 903-590-4620.

LONGVIEW (AP) – A fugitive on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 10 Most Wanted sex offender list has been captured in Longview. The DPS on Wednesday announced the arrest of Michael Wayne Hopson, 57, who formerly lived in Tyler. Hopson was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender in Anderson County and for indecent exposure in Payne County, Oklahoma. DPS agents had searched two homeless shelters when they located Hopson around midday Tuesday at a soup kitchen. Investigators did not immediately provide further details on what led them to Hopson but say his arrest was not the result of a tip. DPS had warned that Hopson should be considered armed and dangerous.

TYLER — Detectives and deputies from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department have arrested a Tyler man on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child, sexual contact. Bruce Dewayne Hash, 42, was arrested at a residence on Highway 155 South. Arrested at the same time, and charged with hindering apprehension, was Jennifer Scritchfind Hurd, who turns 34 on Friday. Hurd told officers Hash was not at the residence when they arrived to serve the warrants that had been issued by the 114th District Court. Hash had previously been arrested by warrant in this matter for one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The two were booked into the Smith County Jail. Bonds for Hash total $900,000.

TYLER — A probation officer has been arrested by Smith County authorities. Around 10:30 Wednesday morning, detectives from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Children’s Advocacy Center completed an investigation of injury to a child, a third degree felony. The suspect was identified as Rachelle Ann Hartgraves. She was arrested Wednesday at the Smith County Adult Probation Department on Elm Street, where she worked.

The arrest is the culmination of an investigation that was initiated in 2012 and was recently re-initiated and completed on March 12. The arrest warrant was issued by 114th State District Judge Christi Kennedy. Bond has been set at $10,000. Mrs. Hartgraves was booked into the Smith County Jail around 10:45.

TYLER — A suspect in a Smith County shooting earlier this month has been arrested. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of Rodrick Cridell Reece, 29. His arrested stems from a shooting on March 7 on County Road 1113 near Highway 155. Acting on a tip, Sheriff’s Office personnel found Reece at a residence on the county road near the crime scene. Reece was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felon in possession of a firearm. The individual who was shot during the altercation was treated and released from a Tyler hospital.

TYLER — Nearly a dozen cars at a Smith County salvage yard have been destroyed by fire. The blaze was reported around 6:30 Wednesday night at TKO Auto Salvage on County Road 2767 in Tyler. The fire was said to have started in a burn barrel on neighboring property, and then spread to the salvage yard. According to KETK, authorities say they’re still trying to locate the person who started the fire; they say that person will be issued a citation for reckless destruction of property. A firefighter, who became overheated, was treated at the scene.

JACKSONVILLE — A charred home is all that remains following a major house fire in Jacksonville, the second blaze there in the last few days. According to the Jacksonville Fire Department, the blaze happened around Tuesday morning in the 1600 block of North Quevado, and another fire had been reported at the same address Sunday morning shortly after 8:15. No one was home at the time of the second incident. But the homeowner, Jose Diaz, told KETK the family lost a car along with the house. The family’s primary house is in Tyler. The Texas Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to investigate the unusual circumstances. No cause has been determined.

MARSHALL — Bonds have been set Tuesday for two people charged in the Friday slaying of a Marshall man. Jason Stevens Rand, 31, and Oriel J. Alexander, 21, are both being held in the Harris County Jail under $500,000 bond, each. According to the Longview News-Journal, the two been charged with murder. A $2,500 bond for possession was also set for Rand. Investigators said David James Cherry, who was found in his home, died of a single gunshot wound to the head. Detectives identified the suspects after finding a surveillance camera at the victim’s house, which showed Rand and Alexander at Cherry’s home about the time of the shooting.