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ATHENS — A group out of Wisconsin wants the nativity scene outside the courthouse in Athens to come down and is threatening legal action. Henderson County Judge Richard Sanders says residents haven’t complained and he understands the display is legal. He points out that there’s a secular display, featuring Santa and his reindeer, on another side of the courthouse. But the Freedom From Religion Foundation does have a problem with it and is calling the manger scene unconstitutional. The foundation’s Annie Laurie Gaylor also says her group may sue, even though it doesn’t want to. The foundation additionally wants to put up an atheist banner at the site. Henderson County does not own the nativity scene. It has been put up for more than a decade by volunteers from the Keep Athens Beautiful group.

LONGVIEW — Longview police release new information as they continue to hunt for a bank robbery suspect. Police now say they’re looking for an older model red or maroon four-door sedan. According to police, the suspect appears to be in his 20s to 30s, 5’6 to 5’8, clean shaven, and no identifiable tattoos.

On December 2, at 10:40 a.m., officers responded to a bank alarm in the 3100 block of H.G. Mosley Parkway. When officers arrived, bank employees told them a white male, possibly in his 30s, walked into the bank wearing blue jeans, a navy or black jacket, a dark ball cap, and small rimmed glasses. The suspect walked up to the teller window and handed the teller a note. He also showed the teller he had a semi-automatic handgun. The teller handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect then left the bank in an unknown direction.

If you have any information in reference to this or any other crime, you’re asked to call the Longview Police Department Detectives at 903-237-1110 or report your information anonymously to Gregg County Crimestoppers at 903-236-STOP. The FBI is also offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

TYLER — Republican Chris Green files an application for a place on the Republican Party General Primary Ballot for Smith County Sheriff. Green recently retired as Game Warden and has served as a state peace officer for 20 years. Green says, “I’ve been a Game Warden for 20 years and have served 16 of those here in Smith County. I have over 4,800 hours in Texas law enforcement training and know the issues that we face in Smith County. I want to implement a fresh perspective, drawing on the relationships that I have cultivated in all aspects of the community.”

Green announced that he is “running on a platform of establishing and maintaining an administration that is ethical, transparent and one with integrity.” Green says he wants to run a department that is fiscally responsible with the budget and with officers who lead by example as professional, compassionate servants of the taxpayers. His opponents in the primary so far are Bobby Garmon, Donn Rust, and Larry Smith.

TYLER — A company with government action against it has hit the East Texas area, according to the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. HomeServe USA, Corp and HomeServe USA Repair Management Corp. is sending East Texas residents a letter which appears to be from the local water/utility company. BBB has received numerous complaints, from consumers across the country, concerning this business’s direct mail solicitations, specifically that the solicitations’ layout may cause consumers to perceive the letters as coming from the consumers’ utility companies and not an independent business selling home warranty or insurance coverage.

On February 26, 2010, the company entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with Jack Conway, Attorney General of the State of Kentucky. The Assurance states that the company violated consumer protection laws by designing and mailing or directing the design and mailing of direct marketing materials containing false, misleading and deceptive representations to approximately 230,000 Kentucky consumers in January of 2011. They have since entered into a state of Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the state of Kentucky. On April 15, 2010, the company also entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with State of Ohio Attorney General.

“Unfortunately, impostor scams are very common, with scammers impersonating officials from the IRS to trusted charitable organizations,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, president and CEO of the BBB Serving Central East Texas. “They make a living by claiming to be affiliated with organizations people know and trust.” HomeServe USA, Corp and HomeServe USA Repair Management Corp offers homeowner warranty coverage and coordinates repair services associated with the warranty coverage. However, BBB has also received customer complaints concerning coverage issues, specifically that when a problem occurred, it was not covered by the policy.

BBB encourages consumers to read any warranty or insurance policy prior to purchase and understand what is covered and any limitations of the policy as well as if your current homeowners policy already covers those items. Also check the licensing or registration status for any service work being performed. If you are a victim of an impostor scam or to report fraud, please call the BBB Hotline: (903) 581-8373. Go to http://www.bbb.org for more tips on how to be a savvy consumer.

LONGVIEW — Longview’s chance at a sweet 16 was not in the cards — or cash registers, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. After 15 consecutive months of increased sales tax revenue, the city posted a decrease this month. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts announced December sales tax rebates for local governments on Wednesday. December rebates result from October sales receipts. While sales tax revenue increased 8.5 percent across the board for Texas cities compared to December 2010, Longview reported a 1.4 percent loss, which amounts to more than $31,000. The city will collect $2.18 million.

The downward trend reflected through much of Gregg and Harrison counties. Only two of Gregg County’s eight cities noted a revenue increase, and Gladewater’s raise amounted to less than a half percent. In Harrison County, Hallsville and Marshall suffered losses of greater than 17 percent, as cities countywide will lose about $150,000 compared to December 2010. Despite the drop, Longview will finish calendar year 2011 with a 9.5 percent increase in sales rebates, at $30.7 million. Cities in Rusk County reported a marginal 1 percent increase, while Upshur County cities notched a collective 7 percent increase, led by East Mountain and Union Grove, where sales tax rebates more than doubled from the previous year.

TYLER — Tyler’s sales tax revenues for December have increased 5.34% compared to December of last year. According to the state comptroller’s office, this has resulted in a 2.46% cumulative year-to-date increase. The reported revenue of $2,538,703 comprises $1,692,468.93 general sales tax revenue and $846,234 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from October 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State.

“We are pleased to see this positive trend in our sales tax revenues,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “However, we will continue to monitor revenue closely to ensure the City remains in a positive position. Each Department within the City prepares a monthly financial forecast to align our current revenues with anticipated expenses. This process assures that should revenues decline, we are prepared to reduce expenditures accordingly.”

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches man has been arrested on the charge of first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault. He was released on a $50,000 bond the same day. According to a Nacogdoches County Grand Jury indictment, Marcus Dan Burdette, 52, sexually assaulted a woman and threatened to harm her and made her fear for her life.

LINDALE — A Lindale man died Wednesday following a one-vehicle crash in Smith County. Dwight King, 26, was driving on CR 431 at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday when his Oldsmobile Alero left the roadway and struck a tree, according to Texas Dept. of Public Safety reports. King was ejected from the vehicle and transported to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. He was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday.

PALESTINE — A 53-year-old Palestine woman whom authorities say was murdered by her husband last weekend died as a result of “multiple blunt force head injuries,” according to a preliminary autopsy report. An autopsy was performed on the body of 53-year-old Beverly Carey Barrett Monday at the Southeast Texas Forensic Science Center in Tyler. On Wednesday, the medical examiner’s preliminary autopsy report showed the woman died as a result of “multiple blunt force head injuries.” Her manner of death has been listed as a “homicide.”

Charged with murder in his wife’s death is Noble Lee Barrett Jr., 53, of Palestine. Barrett Jr. remained in the Anderson County Jail on the murder charge in lieu of a $350,000 bond. Authorities have said they were dispatched to the couple’s residence in the 15000 block of FM 321 shortly after 10:40 a.m. Saturday after receiving a medical emergency call. Beverly Barrett had a “large gash to her forehead” upon the arrival of deputies and was transported to Palestine Regional Medical Center where she died a short time later.

LUFKIN — A suspect is sought after an armed robbery. Lufkin Police were dispatched to the 1100 block of East Denman Avenue early Tuesday morning in reference to a robbery that had occurred at a washateria at the location. According to police reports, a man reported that he was working on his truck when a man walked up behind him, and that when he turned around, the man pressed a handgun to his head and demanded money. The victim surrendered his money to the man, who then fled on foot, according to the report.

KILGORE — Three people are injured in a Kilgore ISD school bus accident. Viki Penny with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department tells KETK it happened on Highway 259 around 5:00 Wednesday afternoon. Although children were on the school bus, Penny says none of them were hurt. The driver of the school bus, and two persons in the other vehicle, were taken to the hospital for treatment.

TYLER — A copper theft is nipped in the bud in Tyler. It happened around noon Wednesday in the 2000 block of Church Avenue. Tyler police tell KETK some residents caught the suspect attempting to take some metal from their property. They called police, who were able to catch the man in the act. According to police, the citizens said they’ve had a lot of metal theft occurring in their back yard. The man was issued a ticket and told he would be arrested if he ever goes back to the scene.

LONGVIEW — More than 100 employees of Longview’s Bemis plastics plant have been told the local plant is shutting down and their jobs are being cut. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Bemis officials announced to employees early this week the company will be shutting down its Longview plant, where they said 109 people are employed, according to Melanie Miller, vice president and treasurer of the Wisconsin-headquartered company.

The company is taking a look at all operations and is trying to improve efficiency, Miller said. Officials said Bemis is working with the Longview Economic Development Corp. in an attempt at offering employees new work. Miller said the closing will be phased out over a period of several months, probably beginning in March with a final shutdown date of May 31.

LONGVIEW — CPS officials tell our news partner KETK more than $20,000 in gifts for foster children in the Longview area have been stolen. The gifts were purchased with donations to the Child Welfare Board and were bought by volunteer shoppers. Several big ticket items were included in the gifts, such as iPods and TVs. The gifts were being kept in a storage room until they were to be delivered to the foster care families in the area, but the room was broken into. CPS says their donations to the children will fall short this year because of the theft. Longview Police are investigating the incident.

TYLER — Smith County firefighters were able to contain a fire Wednesday, but not before a mobile home was destroyed. Officials tell KETK it happened on the 9300 block of County Road 385, which is also known as Old Longview Rd. Officials say the fire was caused by a space heater.

TYLER — A propane heater is the apparent cause of a house fire Wednesday morning in Tyler at 2410 Old Omen road. The initial caller said there was smoke coming from the house. That call was received at 9:30. Three engines and one ladder company, along with a district chief and an investigator, responded to the scene. The fire was contained to one room of the house, but smoke damage was throughout. Apparently the fire was caused by a propane heater that was left on in a room.

TYLER — A settlement is reached in the case of an East Texas constable accused of sexual harassment. Smith County Precinct 5 Constable Dennis Taylor was alleged to have harassed a deputy, and then fired her when his advances were refused. According to KETK, the 12-page complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Tyler. The woman’s attorney was not allowed to describe the terms of the settlement.

RUSK COUNTY — A West Rusk ISD bus was involved in an accident Wednesday morning on Highway 64. Rusk County Sheriff officials said a driver ran into the back of the bus. Six children were on the bus at the time but no one was injured. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to East Texas Medical Center in Henderson with minor injuries.

WINNSBORO — Wood County DPS reports that a man was killed in a rollover about 14 miles south of Winnsboro. Cody Caffey, 26, Winnsboro, was driving southbound on County Road 2869 around 12:30 Wednesday morning when his truck ran off the road and rolled. The wreck is under investigation. Reports say Caffey was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

JACKSONVILLE — An execution date for a Cherokee County man convicted of capital murder was set Monday for March 8, 2012. Beunka Adams was convicted and sentenced to death in August 2004 for the kidnapping and execution-style murder of Kenneth Vandever and the shooting and sexually assault of two BDJ’s convenience store clerks in 2002.

On that night, Adams and accomplice Richard Cobb, also sentenced to death in 2004, allegedly entered BDJ’s and robbed customer Kenneth Vandever, 24, and fatally shot him in the head, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He then allegedly robbed, kidnapped, sexually assaulted and eventually shot two female clerks. Both clerks survived.

According to testimony presented in court by Cobb in 2004, the two met in the ninth grade at a probation boot camp in Jacksonvillle, and began committing burglaries together in 2001.

HUNTINGTON — A two-vehicle accident in Angelina County has claimed the life of a Zavalla City Council member. It happened just outside of Huntington on Highway 69 south. John Wayne DuBose, 54, of Zavalla, was pronounced dead just before 7:30 Tuesday night at Memorial Medical Center, Lufkin.

DuBose was riding his Yamaha motorcycle southbound on Highway 69 when a truck, driven by Jade Smith, of Huntington, traveling east on FM 844, failed to yield right-of-way and struck DuBose, according to DPS. DuBose was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, according to DPS. Dubose, a maintenance worker, became a Zavalla City Council member after running unopposed in May.

TYLER – Tyler school officials gathered to dedicate the recent renovations to Birdwell Elementary School. The ceremony was held at the school on South Talley Avenue Tuesday night.

Between June 2010 and August 2011, all of the classrooms were renovated and updated with current technological advancements. The renovations also included a new entry area, music room, art room, gymnasium, cafeteria, and kitchen, as well as a remodeled auditorium and expanded library. In addition, two enclosed courtyards were added and the entire exterior play area was fenced, which provides a safe place for students to enjoy the outdoors on campus.

Birdwell Elementary School was originally built in 1949, and the current renovations honored the history of the building. For example, the original hardwood floors salvaged and utilized as much as possible and much of the existing auditorium remains intact. All of the renovations utilized existing spaces on the campus.

TYLER — Smith County is one of few government entities nation-wide to receive the 2011 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Purchasing Institute. This prestigious award is earned by those entities that demonstrate excellence, innovation, professionalism, productivity and leadership in their procurement practices.

“We have worked with the Commissioners Court to implement a lot of good procedures,” Smith County Purchasing Director Kelli Davis said. “This is a great honor for the County.”

NPI member and Texas Public Purchasing Association (TxPPA) President Kay Foster presented the award to Smith County during Commissioners Court on Tuesday.

“This award is based on performance measures and best practices. Mrs. Davis and the Smith County Purchasing Team have gone above and beyond to provide the best and most efficient purchasing procedures to the citizens of Smith County,” Mrs. Foster said.

In addition to the prestigious national award received by Smith County Purchasing Department, Mrs. Davis is also the recipient of the 2011 Presidential Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service to TxPPA, an award she has received two years in a row for her service as a Board Member and chair of three committees.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed Linda Ryan Thomas of Longview as presiding officer of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority. The appointment is for a term to expire February 1, 2012. Regional mobility authorities allow local communities to develop regional transportation priorities, and accelerate development and financing for critical transportation projects.

Thomas is partner at Butter-Ryan Partners Ltd., and past vice chair of the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority. She is treasurer of the Good Shepherd Medical Center Foundation, a member of the University of Texas (UT) Liberal Arts Council, and a member and scholarship chair of the UT Tyler Longview University Center Development Council. She is also a board member and development chair of the Kilgore College Foundation, and a board member and past president of the East Texas Area Council Boy Scouts of America Foundation.

Thomas received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas.

LUFKIN – A former bookkeeper at a Lufkin veterinary clinic has pleaded guilty to stealing money from the office. Melissa Suzanne McCleskey, 33, had been accused of stealing over $350,000 from the business. Following a pre-sentencing investigation, McCleskey will be sentenced in January. She could get up to life in prison. An audit of the business led to the discovery of the missing funds and falsified documents.

JACKSONVILLE – Pay checks have been late again at Lon Morris College. School officials say the tough economic times have caused the problem. Lon Morris College President, Dr. Miles McCall told KETK-TV that employees have known since September that the school would be facing some challenges this month.

He said the school did receive a $90,000 gift Tuesday, which he said would speed up the accounts payable process. And McCall said the rumors that the school may soon be forced to close is simply not true.

In a statement from his office, Dr. McCall said, “Over the past year, we had to overcome a few challenges including delayed payrolls. December is always a time when cash flow is slow and expense increase due in part to increased utilities and maintenance as we approach the winter months.”

TYLER — Three people were taken into custody Tuesday on the 1500 block of South Vine Avenue after shots were fired at a local tattoo parlor Tuesday afternoon. According to a witness, a gold Chevrolet pickup drove by, and someone in the vehicle shot the 13th Step Tattoo Shop in the 2100 block of East 5th Street. According to a relative of the owner, the shots were fired in retaliation. The relative claims another newly opened tattoo parlor called the 13th Step Tattoo Shop 10 minutes prior to the shooting and stated they were on their way to attack them. The 5th Street parlor was unoccupied at the time of the shooting.

One suspect was identified as Steven Dewayne Ratliff, 24, of Tyler, who is pictured. Ratliff was charged with deadly conduct, prohibited weapon, possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying weapon. John Currier, 40, of Tyler was arrested for a parole violation out of California. The third person has not been charged at this time. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — A 56-year-old Garland, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in east Texas. Dalton Lee Abrams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to effect transactions with access devices issued to other persons yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, from December 2009 to December 2010, Abrams used fraudulent credit card numbers to purchase gift cards and other merchandise valued at over $1,000 from various retailers. Abrams was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 2, 2011.

Abrams faces up to 5 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER – An Upshur County woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations. Lisa Michelle LeBlanc, 38, of Gilmer pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie. LeBlanc faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to federal prosecutors, on February 22, 2010, LeBlanc purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens store in Tyler. On that same day, she made two additional purchases at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of her methamphetamine manufacturing activities. LeBlanc was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6th, 2011.

TYLER – A Smith County man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations. Ernesto Camacho, 35, of Tyler, pleaded guilty on September 8th to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on March 1, 2011, Camacho was arrested following a traffic stop during which a firearm was discovered in his vehicle. Further investigation revealed Camacho was a convicted felon, having been previously found guilty of aggravated assault, arson and theft. As a convicted felon, Camacho is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Camacho was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 2nd, and charged with federal firearms violations.