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TYLER — Tyler City Councilmember Jason Wright will hold a Town Hall Meeting for residents of District 6 this evening at 6:00. The meeting will be held at the One Realtor Center at 2772 SSE Loop 323. “When I was elected as the Councilmember for District 6, I committed to hosting meetings such as this to provide my constituents an opportunity to give me input and also for me to share what is going on with their local government,” said Wright. This is the second Town Hall hosted by Wright since his election in 2010. Invitations to the meeting were mailed to all addresses in District 6. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. For questions, you can call 903-533-7444.

AUSTIN — East Texas State Representative David Simpson explains why he voted against HB 1, the state budget bill whose final version was passed by the House on Saturday, 97-53. Simpson says HB 1 is the 2012-13 budget, or at least the bulk of it. According to Simpson, “Despite conservative boasts of cost cutting, not raising taxes, and not using the Economic Stabilization Fund or ‘Rainy Day Fund,’ the budget still preserves about $500 million of pork for special interests including film and music makers, video games, and commercials for Fortune 500 companies. Of course this is deemed economic development, but in reality it is a handout to concentrated special interests. These funds could be used for other priorities that promote the general welfare, such as education and care for the weak, or just cut from the budget and returned to the people.

“The ‘conservative’ budget also defers about $4 billion in payments, which is just one of several accounting gimmicks used. Another trick: the budget does not fund the whole biennium. Funds for Medicaid run out in February 2013 and the next Legislature likely will be forced to use the Economic Stabilization Fund to cover the anticipated shortfall. The final spending plan includes $1.5 billion more than the present biennium when you discount the one-time federal stimulus funds, add back the deferrals, and count the anticipated use of the Economic Stabilization Fund in 2013. Funds for K-12 public schools actually increase slightly over the present biennium, but schools will receive about $400 less per student due to population growth.” What Simpson terms “a critical piece of the budget,” education finance, remains up in the air and will now be addressed in a special session.

LONGVIEW — A Longview family was displaced from their home Sunday evening after a barbecue pit ignited and fire spread into the attic of the home. Longview firefighters were dispatched to the 800 block of Dudley Street about 6:30 Sunday evening. Fire investigators said the barbecue pit was sitting too close to the home, and the fire spread into the eaves of the structure and into the attic. The home was reported to be a total loss.

This is the second home to be destroyed this year from a barbecue pit being too close to a structure. On April 17, a home in the 200 block of Solti Street caught fire when the homeowner left his barbecue pit unattended and too close to his house. Longview Fire Marshal, Johnny Zackary, said it is important for residents to keep barbecue pits at least five feet away from structures when cooking.

ALBA — Wood County officials said the circumstances surrounding the death of a 16-year-old boy were suspicious. Loren Saunders was found about last Wednesday morning around 1:30 with a single gunshot wound to the chest at Chaney Point RV Park on County Road 1590 in Wood County. Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the residence after Saunders’ father reported his son had been shot, and he was doing CPR on him, officials said.

The case was turned over to the Wood County District Attorney’s Office for further investigation after the medical examiner’s office said evidence didn’t add up to the death being considered accidental. At the time, investigator William Burge said Saunders’ cause of death was ruled accidental, because Saunders’ father told authorities he caught him playing with the .22 caliber handgun at their home in Alba.

TYLER — Tyler Police on routine patrol heard a burglar alarm around 7:00 Sunday night in the area of North Broadway and Queen Street. As they checked the area they found what appeared to be an intoxicated man in the 100 block of East Queen. He was bleeding extensively from two cuts to his upper arms. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center for treatment.

Officers found that the burglar alarm was coming from New Days Community Church located at 901 North Broadway Avenue. It was apparent from the crime scene that the injured male found on Queen Street had climbed over a fence, above an unlocked gate, and injured himself on concertina razor wire that ran along its top. He then used a cinder block to shatter a door window, thus gaining entrance. Nothing appeared to have been taken from the building.

After his release from the hospital police booked Juan Escobedo-Gutierrez, 28, of Tyler, in the Smith County Jail. He has been charged with burglary of a building.

SMITH COUNTY – A fire at Lakeway Harbor remains under investigation. The fire near Lake Palestine was reported in a house that caught fire three weeks ago. According to Noonday firefighters, there was no way the fire could have rekindled.

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

UNDATED — Beginning Wednesday, contract mowing crews are scheduled to begin mowing the rights-of-way along highways throughout the Tyler District. “While this looks like the end of the wildflower process, it’s actually the beginning,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “The flowers are done blooming and are beginning to drop their seeds. Mowing helps spread those seeds around so next year’s crop can be even better.” Additionally, Krantz said, the thatch created by the mowing helps the shade the seeds from the summer sun and hungry animals.

TYLER — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 271 between North Loop 323 in Tyler and Farm Road 2015 near Pine Springs. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

KILGORE – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude pavement repairs on U.S. Highway 259 Business in Kilgore between Lantrip Street to the south end of the US 259 Bypass, then move to State Highway 42 Business between Lantrip Street and Kilgore Street. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

Also in Gregg County, beginning June 8, FM 2011 will be closed to all traffic between FM 2087 and FM 349 while damage to the bridge in that area is repaired. The closure is expected to last through June 21.

RUSK COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform resurfacing operations on Farm Road 13 between State Highway 42 in Price and the Cherokee County Line. A second crew is scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 1662 between Farm Road 1798 in Laneville and Farm Road 2753 in Anadarko. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2709 between Farm Road 316 in Eustace and State Highway 19 north of Athens, and on Ranch Road 2970 between Farm Road 753 and the end of state maintenance. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week, beginning Wednesday, Texas Department of Transportation contractor Barkley Commercial Construction is scheduled to begin making repairs to damaged bridge railings on the Farm Road 315 bridges over Lake Palestine just south of Chandler. The work is scheduled to last through the end of August. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to begin resurfacing operations on State Highway 294 between U.S. Highway 79 and Farm Road 322. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 3227 between State Highway 198 and Farm Road 47, and on Farm Road 857 just south of Grand Saline. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also this week in Van Zandt County, District-Wide Seal Coat operations are scheduled to begin on SH 19 south of Canton and in the following additional locations:
● FM 751 between the Hunt County Line and FM 47
● SH 198 between SH 64 in Canton and the Kaufman County Line
● FM 315 between FM 279 and Henderson County Line
● FM 47 between SH 243 and SH 198
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Loose gravel may be present for several days following a seal coat application.

AUSTIN — An East Texas Representative’s Aide was arrested Friday for an early morning hit and run accident in Austin. According to an Austin Police report, officers received a call Friday morning from a woman who saw another woman lying on the ground at the end of her driveway. When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found the unidentified woman deceased and believed she was struck by a vehicle. Gabrielle Nestrande, 23, an aide for Representative Wayne Christian (R), District 9, including Nacogdoches, at the state capitol was called in for questioning and arrested for failure to stop and render aid, a third degree felony. The identity of the deceased woman has not yet been released.

CROCKETT — A man described as a professional cattle rustler has been indicted by a Houston County grand jury for third degree felony theft. Jerome Novak was charged with stealing 26 calves late the night of March 14 from the East Texas Livestock Auction in Crockett. Novak was arrested earlier and charged in Brazoria County for allegedly stealing 28 head of cattle from the Nacogdoches Livestock Exchange and a trailer out of Walker County. He’s now in the Brazoria County Jail on $130,000 bond. At the time of his arrest, Novak was on parole after serving time for stealing more than 300 head of cattle in 2006 from multiple victims, including Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.

TYLER — Top student artists from Tyler ISD participate in “The Art of Giving,” a recent show and auction at the Tyler Museum of Art. The TISD Foundation organized the event, with awards handed out and proceeds going to the foundation, along with charities chosen by the students. Foundation board member Todd Cruthird and his company, Suddenlink, played a key role in putting it all together. Cruthird says it was a great experience for the kids, remarking, “It’s not just about the art and their gift and talents, but it’s about teaching them philanthropy.” Cruthird says the kids and their parents were excited that “kids in our communities were reaching out and giving so much of their earnings of their art to different charities around the area.” It was all part of the foundation’s 20th anniversary celebration. Final results of the auction are expected this week.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate a reported stabbing. It happened Saturday afternoon around 1:00 in the 500 block of Wells Street. The victim, Leonard Sweat, said he was stabbed in the upper right leg by someone he knows. He was taken to ETMC for treatment. Authorities are currently searching for the suspect.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man serving two life sentences for capital murder in the deaths of his then-girlfriend’s unborn twins is back in Angelina County for a court date. According to the attorney who represented Gerardo Flores during the 2005 murder trial, Flores is set to appear before state District Judge Barry Bryan this week. He was brought from prison to the Angelina County Jail on a bench warrant Friday, according to jail records. His attorney has filed a motion in his case attempting to prove he had ineffective counsel.

Flores, then 19, stepped on his five-months-pregnant girlfriend’s abdomen twice in a two-week period in 2005, eventually causing an at-home stillbirth of the 20- to 22-week-old unborn boys. The children died from blunt force trauma within days before the delivery, according to the doctor who conducted the autopsies, as detailed in the court ruling. The case tested a Texas law, The Fetal Protection Law”, making it a capital offense to kill an unborn child.

As it is currently, Flores will not become eligible for parole until he’s 59.

TYLER — Tyler Police were called to a home early Sunday morning on an aggravated assault report. It happened shortly after 3:15 in the 300 block of Fleishel. Upon arrival, officers found that six shots had been fired into the house. No injuries were reported. The resident said they did not see the suspect and was unable to give them any information. The case remains under investigation.

TATUM — An early Saturday stabbing near Tatum left one man injured and a teenager in custody. Deputies responded around 3:30 to a location on Rusk County Road 2174 on an assault call, when they found the victim, a 22-year-old Tatum man, with stab wounds to the back. The victim was transported to a local hospital and underwent surgery for his injuries.

Less than five hours later, a 19-year-old Tatum man was located and arrested in Gregg County and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect remained in the Rusk County Jail on Saturday afternoon.

KILGORE — A Gregg County couple were arrested Friday on trafficking charges after officers seized drugs and other items from a Kilgore residence. Katherine Peveler, 52, of Kilgore and Michael Bosewell, 43, of Longview were charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $15,000 for each. Bosewell also was arraigned on an outstanding warrant on charges of resisting arrest in Gregg County.

The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and Henderson Police Department tactical team, assisted by the Kilgore Police Department, executed a search warrant in the 800 block of Leach Street in a portion of Kilgore in Rusk County. During the raid, officers seized a quantity of methamphetamine packaged for sale along with packaging materials. They also seized an unknown amount of U.S. currency, lab equipment, scales, video security equipment and a SUV, according to Rusk County Sheriff Danny Pirtle.