KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank has been selected as one of 40 winning Feeding America food banks to receive a $45,000 grant from Walmart’s Fighting Hunger Together initiative. “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for the East Texas Food Bank. We truly appreciate East Texans’ support and the ongoing generosity of Walmart,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “These grant funds will be used to expand the East Texas Food Bank’s BackPack Program.” Visit http://www.walmart.com/hunger and http://www.EastTexasFoodBank.org to learn more.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is facing new charges after failing to show at a Monday sentencing for her role in the December 2011 burglary of a storage unit containing Christmas gifts meant for area foster children. According to KETK, Rachel Elaine Bradley, 40, was scheduled to appear at 2:45 p.m. in the 124th District Court to be sentenced by Judge Alfonso Charles.

Bradley’s attorney, Joe Black, told Charles his client was on her way to the hospital with chest pains. When the judge asked Black to which hospital Bradley was going, he said he did not know because her mother was taking her. When court was adjourned, the Longview Police Department issued warrants for Bradley’s arrest on three counts of bond forfeiture.

Bradley pleaded guilty April 4, to theft, burglary of a building, burglary of a habitation and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Gregg County District Attorney’s office. Officials with the Harrison County sheriff’s office have also named Bradley as one of two suspects in the theft of 59 manholes covers from Longview business parks, which were reported between April 20 and 23.

Police said Bradley, along with Sarah Marie Adams, 47, of Gilmer broke into the unit at Home Climate Storage in where they stole about $20,000 worth of Christmas gifts that belonged to the Gregg County Child Welfare Board.

TYLER — A Tyler home has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 8:00 Monday night in the 1000 block of Britton Avenue. At one point, smoke and flames billowed high into the air. Occupants were at home at the time of the fire, but escaped uninjured, according to authorities. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

HILLSBORO (AP) — A body found over the weekend in northern Hill County has been identified as a 23-year-old former East Texas Baptist University student who had been missing for about a week.

The Hill County sheriff’s office said in a news release the body of Kasie Clary of Hillsboro was found Saturday. Clary had been missing since April 28.

Justice of the Peace Charles Jones of Hill County said Monday morning that a cause of death has not yet been determined. The Dallas County medical examiner’s office identified the body Sunday.

Investigators with the Hillsboro police and Hill County sheriff’s office are investigating.

GILMER — An appeals court in Texarkana has upheld the guilty verdict and sentence of an Upshur County man in the shooting death of his sister. The 6th Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Glenn Wade Myers Jr., 56, of Big Sandy. Last June Myers was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the shooting death of Cindy Espinosa, 52. Authorities say Myers became upset when Espinosa asked him to pay for repairs to a water well located on their shared property. He is said to have grabbed a shotgun and shot her in the face.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed 10 student regents to their respective university systems, and one student representative to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for terms effective June 1, 2013, and expiring May 31, 2014. Named to the Stephen F. Austin State University board was Matthew Logan, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration.

AUSTIN — A proposal that will let concealed handgun license holders renew their license over the Internet moved past the Texas House Monday. House Bill 48 is by Representative Dan Flynn from Van, who says lawmakers are just trying to make it more convenient. He says the bill “establishes a streamlined CHL renewal program by allowing all licensed holders in good standing to renew their license online or by mail on or before the expiration date.” Williamson County Representative Larry Gonzalez pointed out the measure allows deployed service members the chance to renew their license. The proposal will now go before the Senate.

VAN — A man has died in a stabbing in Van, and the suspect is still at large. According to KETK, Van police and DPS responded after police got a 911 call just before 10:30 Monday morning. Someone was said to be lying in the road after an apparent stabbing near Ohio Street and North Bois D’ Arc Street. The victim died from a stab wound to the chest, according to Van Police Chief Tony Richardson.

Because initial reports said that gunshots were heard, the schools were locked down. However, Chief Richardson said that police were questioning several people, and that he does not believe the public is in any imminent danger. The victim, whose name was not immediately released, is a white man believed to be in his 40s. Announcement of a person of interest was pending.

JACKSONVILLE — A work-related accident has left a Cherokee County man dead. It occurred around 10:00 Monday morning at the Longview Asphalt Plant, Jacksonville Division, off County Road 3302, just outside of Jacksonville. Found dead inside a silo type structure was James Anthony Lucus, 42. His body has been taken to Tyler Forensics Lab for autopsy. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the death.

MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) – An Amber Alert for a 14-year-old East Texas girl allegedly abducted by her ex-boyfriend has been canceled after she was found and rescued. Mount Pleasant police Chief Wayne Isbell said Monday that 23-year-old Jesus Ramirez was obsessed with the girl he secretly dated. Authorities say Ramirez is in custody and the girl is safe. Police say Ramirez abducted the teen, her 4-year-old sister, and their mother from outside church Sunday afternoon. The mother and sister were freed unharmed. The vehicle Ramirez was driving was recovered after being wrecked just before 5 p.m. Sunday on a county road just west of Mount Pleasant. Isbell says Ramirez was charged with sexual assault of a child after the girl’s family learned the two had a relationship and forced them to break up.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are warning citizens of a new scam via phone and mail. According to KETK, people are receiving calls and letters telling them they have won money when they have not. Authorities are saying to remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

TYLER — Smith County’s annual Peace Officer Memorial Service is set Monday, May 13, at 12:00 noon on Tyler’s downtown square. Authorities say, “All peace officers and citizens are encouraged to attend this service to pay tribute to fellow Texas Peace Officers who made the supreme sacrifice while performing their duties. The Tyler Police Honor Guard, Department of Public Safety Honor Guard, Smith County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard and Lindale Police Department Honor Guard will conduct the service. In remembrance of those fallen officers who died in the line of duty please wear your morning badge band on that day.”

TYLER — Four Jacksonville men have been indicted and arrested in connection with a violent crime spree targeting area businesses in east Texas. Jonathan Roshard Brown, 21, Maurice Deshun Jones, 30, Willie Duane Rogers, 24, and Michael Dangelio Johnson, 25, were named in an 8-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April 24. They will be arraigned in Tyler tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie.

Jones was arrested Sunday near Bullard. Rogers was arrested Sunday in Jacksonville. Brown and Johnson have been in state custody at the Cherokee County Jail on related charges.

The indictment alleges that beginning on October 2, 2011, the four conspired together to commit robbery, which unlawfully obstructed, delayed and affected commerce in violation of federal law. The defendants are specifically alleged to have committed four armed robberies in Jacksonville during this crime spree which began on October 2 when Brown, Jones and Rogers stole $9,465 from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Jacksonville. On May 25, 2012, Rogers and Jones were stopped for a traffic violation in Jacksonville. Rogers was arrested for driving without a valid driver license and Jones was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm. A loaded handgun was found protruding from underneath the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

On November 2, 1012, Brown, Jones and Rogers robbed the Razorback Grocery on Highway 69 in Jacksonville. Brown brandished a handgun and demanded money from the owner. Razorback Grocery suffered a loss of approximately $16,000 in cash and $6,900 in Texas lottery tickets. On Nov. 16, 2012, Brown, Jones, Rogers and Johnson again robbed the owner of the Razorback Grocery while he was waiting in the commercial drive-thru line at the Austin Bank on West Commerce Street in Jacksonville. During the robbery Brown fired a handgun, striking the victim. The bullet passed through the victim’s hand, throat and shoulder. The victim survived after being airlifted to a Tyler hospital. The defendants obtained an undetermined amount of cash from the victim’s vehicle. The armed robbery resulted in the closure of Razorback Grocery and the temporary closure of Austin Bank. On November 23, Brown and Jones attempted to rob the owner of the Fast Fuel on Hwy 69 in Jacksonville. The owner was able to strike Brown and flee. From March 19 to March 23, 2013, Rogers, through a series of telephone calls recorded by law enforcement, attempted to bribe a witness in the investigation by offering a payment in exchange for the witness recanting a statement to investigators.

The defendants are each charged with one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy. Jones is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Brown is also charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Rogers is also charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and one count of obstruction of a criminal investigation. Johnson is also charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Under federal law, where there are multiple counts of brandishing a firearm in a crime of violence, the first conviction is punishable by a minimum of seven years in federal prison, and additional convictions are punishable by a minimum of 25 years in prison, and each sentence must be served consecutively to any other sentence. The Hobbs Act violations each carry a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. The felon in possession charge carries a term of up to 10 years in federal prison. The obstruction of justice charge is punishable by a term of up to five years in federal prison.

KILGORE — A man was hit by a train and critically injured in Kilgore. KETK reports it happened just after 11:00 Saturday night, about a quarter mile west of Southport Road. Union Pacific Rail notified police of the incident, and police began searching for the man on the tracks. Police found him with serious injuries. He was taken to Longview Good Shepherd Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery and at last report was listed in critical condition. The man was identified as Armando Aguillar Lopez, 38, of Kilgore. Kilgore Police are investigating the accident.

TYLER – Local business leaders joined Monday with the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce to announce their strong support for the Tyler ISD school bond, and especially the proposed Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center. The leaders say the CTE will provide vital workforce and college-readiness training to Tyler high school students. “The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce has spoken, and we believe the entire bond package is great for our community,” Chamber President and CEO Tom Mullins stated. “We are especially excited about the CTE Center, which will help train students to fulfill local workforce needs,” he continued. The bond proposal also calls for the renovation of Dixie and Rice Elementary Schools and building three new middle schools.

Robert F. “Bob” Westbrook, President of W.R. Ventures Inc. and Chairman of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs committee, also expressed his support. “We have been working closely with the school district as they have planned the proposed Career and Technology Center to ensure students would be learning the skills our local industries need,” Westbrook said. “We pledge to continue this relationship in the future so that as our workforce needs change our school district’s curriculum will change with it.” In addition to Westbrook, local business leaders Phil Burks, President of The Genesis Group, and Faye Pettigrew from Tyler Pipe also announced their support.

Meanwhile, others in the community continue to voice their opposition to the bond proposal. Most recently, Grassroots America – We the People issued a statement citing “a mountain of evidence from both national and state education rating agencies that document Tyler ISD’s poor academic results.” According to a Grassroots America news release, “This bond election is not just about buildings. It should be about setting a higher standard in our community for what the school board and administration produce with our tax dollars.” Early voting continues through Tuesday in the bond election and other local elections throughout the state. The official Election Day is May 11.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police say two credit/debit card abuse suspects have been arrested in Dallas. According to KETK, La Crista Fountain, 29, and Candee Fountain Manzano, 36, have allegedly been passing EFS Transchecks. Felony warrants were issued, and a bond of $50,000 was set for each suspect. Police said the women were staying at local hotels, favoring such ones as Motel 6, Express Inn, and Guest Inn.

TYLER — Tyler Police said Nathaniel Haggerty has been arrested by the Mesquite Police Department. Haggerty, 18, of Tyler, was wanted on a warrant for residential burglary. Authorities believe he may be responsible for many more in Tyler.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE (AP) – Three Stephen F. Austin State University students have been killed and another hurt in a two-vehicle wreck in East Texas. The Department of Public Safety says both drivers survived the Rusk County accident involving an SUV and a tractor-trailer rig. An official at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler says Kevin Garcia, 19, of Houston was in serious condition Monday. DPS says an SUV driven by Garcia was hit by a truck Saturday night while making a U-turn on Highway 315 about 3 miles south of Mount Enterprise. The trucker wasn’t hurt. The three SUV passengers died at the scene. DPS identified them as Patrick Wayne Fagan, 18, of Missouri City, Hunter Vance Buck, 23, of Bastrop and Kamilla Burgos-Carrillo, 21, of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

TYLER — A Tyler man is arrested on a variety of charges, including burglary. The arrest came after a call from a person reported seeing a man walking down the street carrying a window air conditioner. The call came in just before 3:00 Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of Tenneha and Nutbush. Arriving officers were told by others that the man had been observed knocking on doors and trying to open windows. One witness said that he had observed this subject enter a home by removing the air conditioner and then climbing in through the opening.

Officers went to this residence and were not able to get anyone to answer the door but heard noise inside. They believed that the suspect was hiding in this residence. Officers then saw the man looking at them through the window. The suspect refused to come out and ran from the house. One citizen attempted to tackle the suspect but was unable to stop him.

When the suspect ran into a wooded area, officers formed a perimeter. The suspect emerged from the woods and continued running but was taken into custody in the area of Bois D’arc and Martin Luther King. The suspect was identified as Artavious Travon Harris, 20, of Tyler. he was found to already have a warrant for his arrest from the Tyler Police Department for Burglary of a Habitation. While on scene Harris confessed that he had in fact unlawfully entered the residence at 1909 Tenneha to burglarize it.

Harris was transported to the Smith County Jail and booked in for the arrest warrant charge of Burglary of a Habitation. In addition, Harris was charged on-sight for another count of burglary of a habitation, evading arrest, and fail to identify as a fugitive.

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

RUSK COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation contract crews Monday began approximately one week of mill-and-inlay operations on the Henderson Square, marking the beginning of the final phase of the signal upgrade project begun last year. Crews are scheduled to remove the old pavement in the work area, replace it with fresh hot mix this week, weather-permitting, then stripe the area early next week before activating the new traffic signals.

“This is a lot of work in a tight space,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “We’re strongly recommending that motorists use their knowledge of the area to seek alternate routes to bypass the square this week if their intended destination is not on the square.” In addition to providing a brand-new driving surface, the pavement-repair work obliterates the old roadway striping that would not have been compatible with the new signals. “The new signals are generations ahead of the old signals,” Krantz said. “They’ll be hooked into a larger signal network that will be more responsive to motorists using the intersection and traveling throughout Henderson. As a project, this one was long overdue, and we appreciate the patience the people of Henderson have shown during this process.”

Also this week in Rusk County, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to continue edge work on U.S. Highway 259 between the south end of the Kilgore Bypass and Farm Road 850. 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 zones.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation contract crews this week are scheduled to perform mill-and-inlay operations on State Highway 19 in Canton between Interstate Highway 20 and State Highway 64. The work should last most of the week, weather permitting. Once that work is complete, the crew is scheduled to move to perform the same work at the IH 20/SH 64 interchange west of Canton.

Elsewhere in Van Zandt County, TxDOT maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue mill-and-inlay operations on U.S. Highway 80 in and around Grand Saline and begin resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 16 in and around Van late next week. 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.

ALTO – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make base and pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 21 between Alto and the Nacogdoches County Line. Once that work is complete, crews are scheduled to perform the same work on State Highway 110 north of New Summerfield. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Also of note in Cherokee County, right-of-way acquisition for the expansion of U.S. Highway 69 in Wells is scheduled to begin this fall after the Texas Transportation Commission recently voted to allocate $4 million for that purpose. The actual construction is still unfunded, but the project remains a priority of the Tyler District and the department as a whole insofar as it would eliminate a proven bottleneck on a major hurricane evacuation route.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews have scheduled resurfacing operations Monday and Tuesday of this week in various locations on Farm Road 1990, between U.S. Highway 79 south of Palestine and State Highway 294. Once that work is complete, the crew is scheduled to perform the same work on Farm Road 1137 east of Palestine. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 2661 between the railroad crossing south of State Highway 31 and Big Eddy Road. A second crew is scheduled to perform spot-resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2710 east of Lindale between Farm Road 16 and Farm Road 14. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make pavement and edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 779 northwest of Mineola. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to conclude several weeks of pavement-repair operations on U.S. Highway 175 between SE Loop 7 in Athens and Farm Road 804. The work is being done in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

PALESTINE — Early Sunday morning, Palestine Police were called for a disturbance at Club Tangeria on the 200 block of Saltworks Road. Police were called after a report of a man being shot at this location. Police and EMS arrived on the scene and found the victim on the ground in front of the club. Information from witnesses said that the victim had been sitting in a car in front of the club at the time of the shooting. Witnesses also said that a midsize car drove by and three to four shots rang out. The victim was hit in the arm and abdominal area. They were taken to a local hospital. As of 9 a.m. the victim is now in stable condition. The victim who has not been named at this time is from the Fort Worth area.

Police have spoken with several witnesses to the incident and will be following up on several leads concerning the matter. “There are other people that we will be looking to speak with over the next few days,” said Sgt. James Muniz. The investigation is going at this time. There has been no arrests. Detectives from the Palestine Police Department will be looking to talk with one person of interest as early as this afternoon. Police are asking if there are anymore witnesses with any information to call James Muniz at 903-731-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 903-729-TIPS (8477).

EAST TEXAS — East Texas U.S. Marshals are seeking a Tennessee fugitive who may have Aryan Brotherhood connections. David Gordon Jenkins, 46, was indicted by a grand jury in Franklin County, Tennessee for his participation in the beating death of Corey Matthews.

Three other defendants in the indictment have been arrested, but Jenkins is a fugitive regarding these charges from Tennessee. The US Marshals request assistance from the public to locate this man. He was last seen in East Texas. He has connections in the Texarkana and Newton, Texas areas. The suspect also has connections with both the Aryan Nation and Aryan Brotherhood which are white supremacist groups. Jenkins is on the Tennessee 10 Most Wanted List of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. There is a reward being offered from TBI and the US Marshals for information leading to the arrest of the fugitive.

Anyone in East Texas with any information on Jenkins is urged to call your local US Marshals at 903-590-1370, Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833, or Deputy U.S. Marshal Jason Ladd at 423-421-0248.

LONGVIEW — Three Longview residents were arrested Thursday after police said they found methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and weapons inside a home in the 400 block of Gayle Street. According to the Longview News-Journal, Stasha Arianna Benfield, 38, Amos Edward Simmons, 34, and James Timothy Peery, 37, were arrested after agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency, the County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit and the Longview Swat Team executed a search warrant at the house.

Benfield (pictured) was arrested on suspicion of two counts of possession of between one and four grams of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. She was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on more than $20,000 in bonds.

Simmons was also arrested on charges of possession of between one and four grams of a controlled substance and possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. He was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on three bonds totaling $20,500.

Peery was arrested on charges of possession of between one and four grams of a controlled substance, possession of less than two ounces of marijuana and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He was held Friday in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling more than $30,000.

AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas House has overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan measure removing sales tax when consumers purchase gold coins and other small quantities of precious metals. The bill would exempt from sales tax the purchase of up to $1,000 in metal coins. It was authored by Rep. David Simpson, a tea party Republican from Longview. Many lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors, saying it would make it easier for low-income Texans to bolster their savings with some precious metals. It passed overwhelmingly with a simple voice vote Saturday.

The measure is expected to cost the state at least $375,000 through fiscal year 2015. But 21 other states already have no sales tax on gold and silver coins. It must clear a final, procedural hurdle in the House before heading to the state Senate.

LONGVIEW — A district judge in Longview handed a 20-month sentence to a man who pleaded guilty to cruelly tying a dog that became the focus of regional attention two summers ago. According to KETK, while sentencing Jeremy Morgan Evans, 24, Judge Alfonso Charles called photo evidence of the dog’s injuries “sickening.” Charles also said Evans’ ex-girlfriend, who lived alone for a week at the Kilgore house where Evans tied the recently adopted dog, also bore responsibility for injuries to Honey Bee. Rescue of the terrier/Chihuahua mix from a Kilgore backyard sparked a Facebook page that attracted donations from as far away as Japan.

SMITH COUNTY — David and Sabrina Kimbley(pictured) were back in a Smith County courtroom on Friday. According to KETK, they made their appearance in the 241st District Court for a pretrial hearing presided by Judge Jack Skeen. Judge Skeen set their trial date for Monday, June 3rd. The Kimbley’s were arrested and indicted on 13 counts of child endangerment last year. The five Kimbley children were removed from the Kimbley’s care following the death of two year old Jacob Kimbley in August of 2012. In February, the Kimbleys appeared for a routine status hearing on their custody case.

Officials with Child Protective Services cited “neglectful supervision” of so many children, which resulted in Jacob Kimbley’s death, as the reason for the indictment. Earlier reports said Jacob went missing during a game of hide-and-seek and was later found in a septic tank after an extensive search.

The Kimbleys’ five remaining children have been in foster care since the incident, and will stay in foster care during the course of the hearings. KETK has been told that the children are doing fine, and are undergoing medical check ups. The Kimbleys will not be allowed to visit their children.

TYLER — A Tyler ISD school bus carrying 8 students was involved in a minor accident Friday afternoon. KETK reports a vehicle ran a stop sign and struck the bus. Police officers made arrangements to take the children home. Nobody was injured in the accident.

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department and the Muscular Dystrophy Association partner in the fight against neuromuscular diseases during the annual Fill the Boot campaign. Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass, Tyler City officials, MDA staff and special guests began this year’s campaign Friday with a media kick-off at Tyler Fire Station 10, at 2502 Old Omen. Tyler Today is the final day to fill the boots at Wal-Mart on Troup, Wal-Mart on Hwy 64, and the parking lot of Lowe’s from 10am-6pm to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Last year Tyler firefighters raised over $20,000 through their Fill the Boot efforts. Tyler firefighters have been participating in Fill the Boot for several years and have raised over $116,000 in the past eleven years. Firefighters are the largest national sponsor for MDA.

TYLER — Supporters gathered Thursday evening for the kickoff of the Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala. The kickoff event was hosted by Cavender’s Boot City, which donated a portion of the proceeds to the gala’s beneficiary, the American Cancer Society. “This kickoff party is a great way to get your Cattle Barons’ Gala ‘Rigs to Riches’ outfit, all while shopping for a cause,” said Trudy Williams, Cattle Barons’ Co-Chair. There were also gala tickets on sale at the kickoff. The Cattle Barons’ Gala will be held June 8th at the Rio Neches Ranch. Go to http://www.cattlebaronsgala.net/ for more information.

CARTHAGE — A special-appointed judge ruled Thursday that embattled Panola County Sheriff Ron Clinton will be suspended with pay. During a hearing in Carthage, Judge Diane DeVasto ordered the county to continue paying Clinton, said defense attorney David Moore. “The state had asked he be suspended without pay,” Moore said, according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The judge gave the defense until May 14 to respond to a petition filed Tuesday by Panola County District Attorney Danny “Buck” Davidson for Clinton’s removal from office, Moore said. Another hearing has been set for May 16. DeVasto appointed Panola County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Kevin Lake as interim sheriff, Moore said.

DeVasto, a former justice on the 12th Court of Appeals, was appointed to preside over the case, and members of the Smith County district attorney’s office are prosecuting it. Davidson and 123rd District Court Judge Charles “Brick” Dickerson recused themselves from the case.

Clinton was arrested Feb. 28 by Texas Rangers and FBI agents on charges of tampering with a government record, abuse of official capacity and theft by a public servant. The charges stem from what prosecutors allege were Clinton’s failure to repay a travel advance and a scheme to use county money to repay it, which involved instructing an informant to lie. After the hearing Thursday, Moore said, “We still maintain we are innocent. We have not been indicted. We understand there is a grand jury in place in Carthage. Hopefully we’ll have an opportunity to address the grand jury ourselves. We hope that would be a two-way street.”