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HENDERSON COUNTY — A Van Alstyne man dies after a one-vehicle motorcycle crash in Henderson County. According to Department of Public Safety officials, Bradford Martin Boyd, 53, was pronounced dead around 8:30 Wednesday morning. Troopers say the wreck happened around 1:00 after Boyd failed to yield at a stop sign near the intersection of Lazy Launch and Shady Shores Drive. They say he ran into a dry lake bed.

FLINT – Officials say a toddler found unresponsive Wednesday and rushed to Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center has died. The Noonday Volunteer Fire Department was called out shortly after 6:30 last night at the Villages Resort in Flint after the boy was found in the pool. The boy is identified as Jaquion Grant, 4, of Jacksonville. An autopsy has been ordered.

CANTON — Van Zandt County Sheriff R. P. “Pat” Burnett, Jr., was elected Sergeant-At-Arms of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas at their 133rd Annual Training Conference held in Houston. Sheriff Burnett has served as Sheriff of Van Zandt County since November 2000. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation. The Sheriffs of Texas met for the first time on August 14th, 1874, in the courthouse in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.

AUSTIN – A couple of East Texans have received awards at the state’s Public Safety Commission meeting. Director Steven C. McCraw thanked all of the award winners and said, “Your exceptional service and sacrifice is in keeping with the proud tradition of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the State of Texas.”

The Purple Heart was presented to Trooper Larry Michael Vaughn, Quitman (pictured here). He received the award for injuries sustained when he served a warrant on a dangerous fugitive. The suspect discharged a shotgun through a closed window, striking Trooper Vaughn and causing serious bodily injury. Trooper Vaughn was temporarily disabled, but has now made a full recovery and has been able to return to work.

A Director’s Award was presented to Kyle Evans of Canton. Evans received the award for his bravery and heroism when he entered a vehicle that crashed and was engulfed in flames in order to pull out the driver. Mr. Evans’ actions saved the life of the vehicle’s driver.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A poultry giant has recalled more than five tons of ready-to-eat chicken made in Texas because the products could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., was recalling two products.

The first is 390 pounds of Fully-Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets with Rib Meat. Made at Pilgrim’s Waco plant, it was distributed through a foodservice distribution center in Columbus, Ohio.

And about 10,850 pounds of Sweet Georgia Brand Fully-Cooked Breaded White Chicken Nuggets Shaped Patties was recalled. It was Produced at Pilgrim’s Mt. Pleasant plant, it was sent to foodservice distribution centers in New Jersey and Texas.

The problem was discovered during on-site internal testing at each plant.

TYLER – A young Tyler boy rushed to a Dallas hospital after being pulled from a back yard swimming pool is said to be in “stable” condition. Officials say he is currently on a ventilator. Noah Weisberg, 2, was found floating in an above the ground pool at 628 South Kennedy around 4:45 Thursday afternoon. The boy’s mother is employed by the Tyler Police Department as a Dispatcher. She lives at the residence with her parents and her two children.

Family members told police that they were in the process of grilling outside. They were unaware that Noah had got out into the backyard and into the pool. The grandfather who owns the residence found his grandson floating in the pool and immediately pulled him out. It’s unknown how long the youngster was in the pool when he was discovered.

Family members started CPR on the child until emergency personnel arrived on the scene and took over. The child was transported to East Texas Medical Center Hospital and was flown to Children’s Hospital in Dallas.

TYLER — A public flag-raising at 8:00 this morning dedicates Smith County’s new Armed Forces Reserve Center, part of the military’s Base Realignment and Closure project. The facility, basically a training center, puts local Army Reserve and National Guard functions all under one roof. First Sgt. Christopher Cassano of the 141st Quartermaster Company says it’ll be a big benefit to the local military. Cassano says features include up-to-date classrooms with projection screens, a gymnasium a big motor park, and a big maintenance facility. The location is Highway 31 across from the old Kelly-Springfield, or Goodyear, plant.

LONGVIEW — Longview resident Johnny A. Mumphrey, 37, has pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with a minor. He received ten years deferred adjudication probation. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Mumphrey could face up to 20 years in prison if he violates his probation. Mumphrey was accused of five counts of sexually assaulting a youth for a decade between the ages of 8 and 18. The man is now 20. The guilty plea ended a Gregg County district court trial in which the jury was having trouble reaching a verdict.

TYLER — In an effort to educate residents about the Tyler Municipal Court’s ability to put a hold on the renewal of driver’s licenses for people who have fines and/or warrants pending in the court, the Municipal Court will hold a “Keep Driving” sweep beginning Friday and continuing through August 6. To help residents “keep driving,” the court will remove the warrant fee(s) from residents who pay their fines in full; officials say this can result in a savings of up to $50 per violation. Once a resident has paid his or her fines in full, the Municipal Court will remove the hold on the driver’s license renewal so the individual can “keep driving.” Holds on driver’s license renewals cannot be removed until all of a driver’s fines are paid in full.

“We frequently hear that residents were not aware of the court’s ability to place a hold on their driver’s license and that they need to renew their license right away,” said Court Administrator Cam McCabe. “This program will make it easier for them to pay their fines and renew their license.”

While all courts in the State of Texas have the ability to place holds on driver’s licenses, this program applies only to fines that are due to the Tyler Municipal Court and does not apply to parking violations or fines totaling less than $200. Drivers can call 1-800-686-0570 to find out if any court in the state has placed a hold on their license. “Even when paid in full, it can take from seven to 30 days for the hold on the driver’s license to be removed,” added McCabe. “So those who wait until the last minute may face several weeks of not being able to renew their license.”

As part of the “Keep Driving” sweep, the Municipal Court will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. The Tyler Municipal Court is at 813 N. Broadway Ave., and its regular business hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

TROUP — Homeowners in Troup are not too happy about a new store that could move into the middle of their neighborhood. It’s happening along the 100 block of South Georgia. Homeowners tell KETK the former gas station’s been vacant for years. But after the city approved alcohol sales, the landowner’s looking to turn the building into a new package store. Homeowners say they’re fighting the move every step of the way.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – A Nacogdoches man convicted of murdering his estranged wife and sentenced to life in prison agrees to terminate the parental rights of his two daughters. Kyle Barnhill, 47, worked out an agreement on a settlement to terminate his rights Wednesday in a Nacogdoches courtroom. A family not related to Barnhill has cared for the girls and has been seeking to adopt them. The girls were ages 10 and 3 at the time of the slaying. Melissa Barnhill was shot through a kitchen window in March 2009. The girls were in the house but not injured. Kyle Barnhill was caught 500 miles away, in the Eagle Pass area. A jury in October 2009 convicted Barnhill of murder and sentenced him to life behind bars.

NOONDAY — The controversy surrounding a new gun range in Noonday continues. KETK told you last week about the neighborhood association trying to shut it down over noise and safety issues. The pursuers have lawyers and an expert. The gun range is less than a thousand feet from an upscale subdivision, and the residents want it shut down. They have sent photos of the range to the man who wrote the original safety guidelines for gun ranges for the National Rifle Association, Richard Whiting, though he hasn’t worked there since 1994. Don Layton, the co-owner of the property has an NRA certification for the range and carry NRA insurance. Layton says they’ve met the state standards and will wait on any action from the Smith County DA.

MARSHALL – Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a Marshall home. It was reported around 10:30 Tuesday morning at the Robie Haggerty residence at 415 Sanford Street. The couple was able to escape the burning house without being injured. The fire is thought to have started in a bedroom of the home.

NEW YORK (AP) — East Texas-based Lufkin Industries says that second-quarter profit jumped 74% as higher oil prices boosted demand for the company’s services. Lufkin President and CEO John Glick said yesterday orders for company services are on the rise in both its oil field and power transmission divisions.

WHITEHOUSE (AP/Staff) – More information has emerged about what apparently prompted a stabbing incident in Whitehouse. Shaun Lawler, 32, of Whitehouse remains jailed on $300,000 bond in Smith County after authorities say he stabbed his fiancee as she returned an engagement ring. Lawler turned himself in to authorities Monday night after an argument turned violent. It happened around 10:45 Monday morning at a business at the intersection of Highway 110 and Hagan Road in Whitehouse. Police say Lawler attacked the victim, stabbing her multiple times. The woman, Jessica Wimpee, 23, remained hospitalized following emergency surgery.

TYLER — Tyler Police Investigators have identified and arrested the suspect in a hit-and-run incident involving alleged unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The incident occurred at Southtown and S. Broadway Tuesday around 11:15 p.m. The suspect is identified as Jeremy David Turner, 32, of Tyler. Turner has been arrested for unauthorized use of motor vehicle, along with felony and misdemeanor hit and run. Turner is now in Smith County Jail on a $60,000 bond set by Judge Tom Dunn.

The owner of the vehicle works at Buffalo Wild Wings. She told officers Tuesday night that Turner had taken her vehicle without her permission. While officers were heading to the scene they were advised that the vehicle the suspect was in had been stolen in the 7900 block of South Broadway prior to the accident.

Investigators say a black 2002 Honda Civic had been struck from the rear causing that vehicle to strike a white 2011 Ford Focus. The 31-year-old male driver of the Honda Civic was not injured. The 51-year-old female driver of the Ford Focus was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The stolen vehicle, a black 2009 Nissan Altima was recovered in the roadway in the 6200 block of Hollytree Drive. The vehicle had extensive damage to the front end. The driver had fled the scene.

TYLER — The 96th East Texas State Fair is weeks away, opening on Thursday, September 22 and running through October 2. Of course, there’ll be carnival rides, exhibits, fair food, and animals — along with the third annual concert series. “The East Texas State Fair is a fun, family tradition. We created a concert series in 2009 and have watched it grow in popularity ever since,” said Heather Pickett, director of presentation and development. “The 2011 concert line-up features many local and almost-local favorites. We look forward to great crowds at each of the concerts. As always, the concerts are free with your Fair admission!”

The 2011 concert series kicks off Friday, September 23rd, with 13-year-old blues guitar virtuoso and Shreveport native Matthew Davidson. On Saturday, September 24th, says Pickett, East Texas’ own JB and the Moonshine Band will have the crowds on their feet. Feliz Cumpleanos to La Invasora on Sunday, September 25th, as the fair celebrates the 10th birthday of La Invasora with an all-day music festival of Tejano and Latino bands. The Monday Gospel tradition continues on Monday, September 26th, with The Sounds of Smith County, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office Gospel Choir.

Pickett says This Day Forth will rock the stage on Tuesday, September 27th. Alternative band Truffula Tree performs Wednesday, September 28th. It’s “more than blues,” says Pickett, with Something Blue on stage Thursday, September 29th. Austin’s Brad Dunn and Ellis County take the stage Friday, September 30th. Oklahoma boy and former Cross Canadian Ragweed front man Cody Canada and his new venture Cody Canada and The Departed wrap up the concert series as the headliner on Saturday, October 1st.

LONGVIEW — Fire department officials said a Tuesday night fire that displaced a Longview family was started from a 5-year-old playing with fire. Longview firefighters were dispatched to the 500 block of West Broadway Street at about 8:00 Tuesday night after authorities were notified about the fire, according to Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary. Zackary said the blaze started after a 5-year-old was playing with matches or a lighter. He said the blaze destroyed the living room and a hallway in the home.

WICHITA, KAN. – Two East Texas hunters have been indicted on federal poaching charges. The announcement was made yesterday by U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Justin Klein, 29, of Center, was indicted on three counts of transporting deer across state lines after the deer were illegally taken in Kansas. The indictment alleges the deer were taken in violation of Kansas hunting laws November 1, 2006, and November 1, 2007, in Comanche County, Kansas.

Johnny Risinger, 43, of Mt. Enterprise, was indicted on one count of transporting a deer across state lines after the deer was illegally taken in Kansas. The indictment alleges the deer was taken in violation of Kansas hunting laws on December 1, 2005, in Comanche County, Kansas.

Both men are charged under the Lacey Act, which is a federal law that makes it illegal to knowingly transport or sell in interstate commerce any wildlife taken or possessed in violation of state law or regulation. If convicted, Risinger and Klein face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $20,000 on each count.

The indictments are related to a federal investigation that led to the convictions of James Bobby Butler, Jr., and Marlin Jackson Butler on charges of conspiracy and interstate trafficking of game illegally taken in Kansas. James Butler was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and Marlin Butler was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. The two Nacogdoches County men ran a hunting camp in Kansas. James Bobby Butler Jr. was accused along with his brother with offering guided hunts to hunters who paid thousands of dollars to kill deer illegally.

TYLER – A Rusk County man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking. Kylon Jeffery Henson, 22, of Henderson, pleaded guilty on March 23 to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis. According to federal authorities, beginning in September 2009, Henson possessed approximately 181 grams of cocaine base, also referred to as crack cocaine, with intentions to distribute it in the East Texas area. Henson was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2011, and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

TYLER – An Anderson County man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking. Sterlynn Jeremiah Henry, 33, of Palestine, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute phencyclidine, also known as PCP. He was sentenced in Tyler yesterday to 151 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on October 7, 2009, Henry and a co-defendant, Andrea Rachelle Bailey, were found to be in possession of a mixture containing a detectable amount of PCP, which they intended to distribute in the Eastern District of Texas. Henry also admitted to being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of his criminal activity. Henry and Bailey were indicted by a federal grand jury on December 1, 2010. Bailey pleaded guilty on February 3, 2011 and was sentenced to time served and 3 years supervised release on June 30, 2011.

ALTO — Authorities say they’ve arrested a suspect in an Alto convenience store robbery. Around 12:30 Monday morning the Corner Market at Highway 69 and Highway 21 was robbed by a man displaying a firearm. A citizen in the area observed the suspicious activity and called 9-1-1. A Cherokee County Sheriff’s Deputy was on scene shortly after receiving the call. The deputy then observed the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in Alto. Authorities say that upon the deputy’s approach, the suspect fled on foot into a wooded area.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) K-9 track and pack dogs were called to the scene to assist in locating the suspect. Personnel with TDCJ and Sheriff’s Detectives and Deputies tracked the suspect for approximately 4 hours. The suspect had been identified through further investigation, and the search was called off due lack of information. At approximately 5:45 am a local citizen aware of the search for the suspect observed him walking on a county road outside Alto. Detectives and deputies arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by TDCJ as well Rusk Police Department.

The suspect has been arrested on charges of aggravated robbery, evading arrest or detention, and resisting arrest. The name of the suspect was withheld pending arraignment.

LONGVIEW — A 911 dispatch system failure that caused one emergency call to be dropped and others re-routed occurred when workers bumped a breaker. Longview police officials blamed this past week’s outage on contractors working in the breaker box next to one for the 911 telephone system. The failure happened about 10:00 Wednesday morning.

Police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said when the telephone system failed, it went directly into multiple alarm mode, which required that calls be rerouted to non-emergency extensions for up to about seven hours.
“Because of the way the system is configured, the only way this could have occurred was if something physically bumped, switched or unseated the breaker,” Brian said. “And the only people working on the electrical system and near those breakers at the time were the contractors.”

Because of the error, one in-progress 911 call was dropped, Brian said, but it already had been processed and entered into the dispatch system, so dispatch was not affected. She said Systems Specialist Daniel Waites was notified about the issue immediately and activated the center’s backup procedure to forward all calls to the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department.

Brian said call routing was lost for between 45 seconds and a minute. While technicians worked to reroute calls to the non-emergency extensions, two dispatchers were sent to Gregg County to assist handling emergency calls, she said. “The enhanced features of 911 were not available while the system was down. Specifically, this includes the automatic number and location information that typically displays during 911 calls. However, it is (dispatchers’) policy to verbally verify all addresses and phone numbers on emergency calls, even when they have the number and location displayed. Therefore, dispatch time was not significantly delayed on any calls processed internally,” Brian said.

While the system was down and calls were being rerouted to Gregg County, the department received seven phone calls, three of which were for emergency medical services. Brian said the communication staff have an effective and capable contingency plan in case there is a system failure, and that it worked exactly as designed.

MANGUM, Okla. (AP/Staff) – A convicted killer said in a tape recorded interview that he kidnapped the wife of a former Oklahoma prison warden and that she did not help him escape. The recording of the now-dead Randolph Dial was played Tuesday in the trial of Bobbi Parker on a charge that she helped Dial escape the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. Parker’s husband – Randy Parker – was the prison’s deputy warden. Dial described Parker as a victim that he kidnapped at knifepoint. Prosecutors say Parker fell in love with Dial helped him escape. The defense says Parker was kidnapped and that she stayed with Dial out of fear he would harm her family. The recording was made after the two were found living in the Shelby County, Texas, community of Campti in 2005. Dial died in 2007.

SMITH COUNTY — The burn ban for Smith County was extended for up to 90 days by the Smith County Commissioners Court. It was extended yesterday morning due to extremely dry conditions. The burn ban can be rescinded at any time during the 90 day period if conditions change. Since July 1, there have been 97 fires reported in Smith County.

“Many factors go into the decision-making process regarding the issuance of a burn ban. Record periods of heat have made conditions dangerous for outdoor burning and there is little chance for rain in the near future,” Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said.

Unusually high temperatures, lack of rainfall and low moisture levels have contributed to the need for a ban to be issued.

FLINT — A Smith County family loses its home to a fire. The Bullard fire department and Flint volunteer firefighters say flames were shooting through the roof when they arrived on the scene of the blaze in the 200 block of Cass Circle. Officials say the fire started on the back porch Monday morning, but they are unsure of the exact cause. The fire marshal is investigating and said the house was a total loss. No one was injured in the fire. Donations can be made at Bass Powersports, 750 N Northeast Loop 323, Tyler 903-566-0101. You can go to http://www.bpowersports.com to learn more about the family and their needs.

GALVESTON (AP) – Two guests have been treated for minor injuries after an SUV driven by a vacationing East Texas woman went through a wall and into a Galveston motel. Lt. Joel Caldwell says Brenda Harvey, 63, of Lufkin told police that she accidentally pressed on the gas pedal instead of the brake Monday afternoon. The vehicle went into one room at the Americas Best Value Inn and Suites and broke through the wall of another, apparently briefly trapping a guest. One woman was treated for a bump to the head. Police did not immediately provide details on the second victim. Harvey and her grandson, who was in the vehicle with her, weren’t injured. Police say no alcohol or drugs were involved in the accident.

WHITEHOUSE — A suspect has turned himself in to authorities after an argument turns violent. It happened around 10:45 Monday morning at a business at the intersection of Highway 110 and Hagan Road in Whitehouse. Police say the suspect, Shaun Lawler, 32, Whitehouse, attacked the victim, stabbing her multiple times. The 23-year-old woman was hospitalized, following emergency surgery. Lawler eventually turned himself in last night and was booked into the Smith County Jail. His bond was set at $300,000.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating the report of an assault to a woman jogger in the 2900 block of Jamestown Drive. It happened just before 9:30 Monday night. She told officers during the assault her dog possibly bit the suspect in the face. According to investigators the woman suffered minor injuries to her neck but did not require medical treatment. The victim described the suspect as a white male as about 35 years old, medium build, 5’09”-6’00”tall, short brown hair and wearing a white t-shirt and long khaki pants.

LONGVIEW – Two Longview teens are in trouble after leading police on a chase over the weekend. It began around 4:30 Saturday morning when an officer noticed a car traveling at a high speed near the 2500 Block of Thirteenth Street. The officer stopped the car but the driver sped away when the officer got out of his patrol car. After a short pursuit the driver reached a dead end street. Both the driver and passenger jumped from the vehicle. Officers detained the 14 year old driver. Officers searched the area for the other suspect but were unable to locate him at that time.

The driver was arrested for evading arrest or detention in a Vehicle and he received two traffic citations including driving with no driver’s license and disregarding a stop sign. Several hours later, the mother of the other suspect brought her son, also 14 years old, to the police department. Police learned that he had taken the mother’s car without her permission and was a passenger in the vehicle during the pursuit. He was not arrested but investigators say charges will be filed against him.