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TYLER — A 26-year-old Ainsworth, Nebraska man has been sentenced in Tyler federal court for misapplying funds owed to the Farm Services Agency. Michael Kord Chapman, a former Wood County rancher, pleaded guilty last August to conversion of mortgaged property. He was sentenced yesterday to five years probation by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Chapman was also ordered to pay restitution of $83,622.42 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency.

According to federal prosecutors, between February 18, 2011 and April 7, 2011, Chapman sold approximately 158 head of cattle valued at over $83,400.00 that had been pledged as collateral on a loan from the Farm Services Agency. Instead of paying the loan, Chapman kept the proceeds of the sale for himself and converted them to his own use.

TYLER – A 39-year-old Longview man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for drug trafficking. Spencer Garod Elam was convicted by a jury last October of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone, two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony. Elam was sentenced yesterday in Tyler to a total of 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, Elam was arrested on May 16, 2011 following a lengthy investigation into a drug trafficking enterprise in Gregg County, Texas. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 11, 2011, charging 13 Longview residents, including Elam, with multiple drug and gun violations.

TYLER — A Hawkins man, formerly of Louisiana, has been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison for bank robbery. Robin Marion Allen pleaded guilty last September, to bank robbery. He has been sentenced to 160 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. Federal prosecutors contend, on June 25, 2012, Allen borrowed a car and drove to the Wells Fargo Bank on East Main Street in Atlanta, Texas. Allen approached a bank teller and gave the teller a hand-written note with instructions to fill a black bag with cash. The teller placed $1,944 in cash in the bag and returned it to Allen. Allen was arrested Atlanta two days later.

TYLER — A California man has been sentenced in Tyler federal court for drug trafficking violations. Hercel Vernoy Shultz, III, 37, pleaded guilty last September to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. According to information presented in court, on February 24, 2012, Shultz was arrested after he was found in possession of over 400 grams of methamphetamine which was in his luggage at the Amtrak train station in Longview. Before his arrest, Shultz had been traveling from Yuma, Arizona to Longview.

MARSHALL – A 45-year-old Jefferson woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Tracy Renee Hampton pleaded guilty on March 27, 2012, to possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She was sentenced in Marshall yesterday to 84 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. According to prosecutors, Hampton was involved in a conspiracy with others to purchase cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at multiple pharmacies across East Texas. Hampton was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 1, 2012 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations.

BEAUMONT — A Nacogdoches man man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations. Rodney Stevenson, 26, pleaded guilty last August, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison yesterday by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.

Federal prosecutors say from 2008 to June 20, 2012, Donald Dixon, a.k.a. “Black”, Cedrick Fowler, a.k.a. “C” and “C-Murder”, Kerry Wayne Griffin, a.k.a. “Big Boy”, Omar Paunetto, Jose Angel Bustillos, Michael John Pereira, Rodney Stevenson, a.k.a. “Arod”, Darius Thorn, a.k.a. “Bs” and “Beez”, Tremaine Smith and Anthony Fowler conspired to traffic cocaine and crack cocaine throughout East Texas.

Stevenson’s role in the organization was to assist Cedrick Fowler in acquisition of cocaine and the distribution of cocaine base. Stevenson traveled with Cedrick Fowler on one or more occasions to purchase cocaine from Donald Dixon. On May 25, 2012, investigators executed an arrest warrant at Stevenson’s apartment and detained him after he attempted to flee. They found C. Fowler in a second bedroom of the apartment and Stevenson’s girlfriend in his bedroom. Underneath a pillow on Stevenson’s bed, agents recovered a FEG, 9mm, Model P9R, semiautomatic pistol. They also found 4 pounds of marijuana in the bedroom closet and a small amount of cocaine in a kitchen cabinet. They say Stevenson was responsible for distributing over 5 kilograms of cocaine

AUSTIN — Republican Representative Matt Schaefer of Tyler has filed House Bill 1415 to give local school districts flexibility to employ highly qualified teachers for career and technical education courses. “Parents would love to have experts from various professions teaching their students. Right now, Austin is making that very difficult. This bill cuts the red tape,” Schaefer said. “I want our local school officials deciding whom to put in the classroom, not bureaucrats in Austin.” Schaefer says the superintendents in Bullard and Chapel Hill have voiced support for his bill.

KILGORE — Kilgore College student Samuel Essary has been awarded the first installment of a $3,200 college scholarship due to his high scores on the GED tests. The scholarship was awarded in Austin at the Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) Awards Banquet. He received the scholarship for having the highest scores of any TALAE student member in the East Region which is comprised of nine adult education programs.

Essary, now in his second semester of college at KC, was also the valedictorian of the KC GED graduating class last June after completing classes with the KC Adult Education Program. Since earning his GED, he has also completed the Intensive College Readiness Program to further prepare for college.

TYLER — Toll 49 Segment 3B from State Highway 31 to Interstate Highway 20 has been given an estimated opening date of March 29. The Texas Transportation Commission is meeting tomorrow to officially complete the transfer from TxDOT to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority, allowing the NET RMA to take over once construction is complete. The NET RMA has scheduled a celebration March 2 to acknowledge the transfer. Officials say though the toll road is nearing completion, there are numerous items such as roadside work, striping, signage, and signaling to be wrapped up. According to officials, a separate announcement will specify the date and time the roadway will open to I-20.

TYLER — One woman was taken to a local hospital after her vehicle rolled-over Monday afternoon in Smith County. According to KETK, it happened a little before 4:00 on Highway 31 near County Road 238. Smith County DPS officials said the woman lost control of her vehicle, over-corrected and rolled. She was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

LONGVIEW — Funeral services are pending today for former Gregg County Sheriff Tom Welch. Welch, 83, was sheriff from 1973 until December 1979, when he resigned. He was found dead in his Gregg County home Monday afternoon.

In 1979, Welch along with former county commissioner Bill Satterwhite, Justice of the Peace Charles Cashell and former deputies Bill Roach and Jim Cochran were convicted in Tyler federal court of official corruption. Welch, Satterwhite and Cochran were also convicted on federal murder-conspiracy charges.

MARSHALL — A Marshall school student has been arrested after a gun was found in his back pack. Jawone Washington, 19, who attends the district’s Alternative Education Program, is charged with having a weapon in a place they are prohibited. The senior was booked into the Harrison County Jail. An off-duty officer, who works security at the school, found the gun around 8:00 yesterday morning. It was described as a 9mm which was not loaded. A magazine with ammunition along with some clothes were also found in the student’s back pack.

BROWNSBORO — Brownsboro High School implemented its Shelter-In-Place response plan Monday morning just before 9:00 as a result of a threat made against one of its students. According to a news release from the school district, information was given to school administrators reporting a Smith County resident had made threats against a Brownsboro High School student, specific and credible enough that school officials responded with Shelter-In-Place. According to the news release, the response was taken to ensure the protection of the campus and specifically the individual student.

Brownsboro ISD Superintendent Dr. Chris Moran reports, “Our school district Chief of Police and campus administration did an exceptional job of using common sense to preserve the integrity of the school day, while at the same time, responding quickly and effectively to the threat.” The Brownsboro Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff, and BISD Police force coordinated an effort to protect the campus efficiently and the suspect was arrested in Smith County shortly after the threat was reported, Moran said. Moran added, “Parents, students, and staff in Brownsboro ISD, which includes the City of Chandler, should feel confident to know that school safety and the safety of our students is the most important thing.”

The Shelter-In-Place ended just before 10:00, only an hour after the information was reported, and students at Brownsboro High School did not miss any instructional time. The suspect was charged with terroristic threat, a 3rd degree felony, and transported to Henderson County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 dollars bond. According to the National Terror Alert Response, shelter-in-place is defined as “a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors.”

TYLER — A Henderson County man’s appeal has been denied last night by he Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler. According to KETK, Jeffrey Ross Seery was sentenced to 60 years in prison on three counts of sexual assault in January 2011 for raping a then 14-year-old girl. After the sentencing, Seery appealed his convictions, claiming that some testimony should not have been heard by the jury and that some of his evidence, which was kept from the jury, should not have been.

Seery was arrested September 27, 2009, by deputies who were dispatched to reports of a 14-year-old girl who had been assaulted at a house on Highway 31 near Athens. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant and booked into the Henderson County Jail. Authorities also found two hand grenades and marijuana at the home. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents in Tyler traveled to the location and retrieved the grenades. Officers charged Seery with sexual assault while he was still in custody on an escape charge.

During the trial, the victim emotionally detailed her relationship with Seery and described how he groomed her from a young age to engage in sexual acts with him. Other witnesses testified Seery claimed to be a high ranking special-forces paratrooper who suffered from PTSD. At one time, the convict was thrown a going away party after claiming he was being deployed to Afghanistan. Military records show he was never in combat and was discharged as a private for various infractions, according to court documents. Prosecutors also claimed Seery fooled people into believing his military stories and used them to separate his victim from her mother. Seery can still petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to review the decision.

LONGVIEW — Two families have been displaced following two unrelated laundry fires in Longview. KETK reports the first fire happened just before 5:30 Saturday afternoon at a house on Harroun Circle. When crews arrived at the scene, a fire was burning in the storage area of a laundry room. About $10,000 in damage was done to the home, according to the Longview Fire Department. No one was injured, but the family is now without a home. At least four people were displaced.

A second house fire occurred around 7:45 that evening in the 400 block of Delano Street. Authorities believe the fire sparked in the laundry room near electrical items. Officials say the fire did about $200,000 in damage. The blaze displaced seven people. All occupants of the home were able to escape without injury. However, one firefighter suffered minor burns to his neck during the fire. The Red Cross will assist the families.

KILGORE — Kilgore College is responding to a pepper spraying incident reported after the KC men’s basketball over Navarro Saturday night. The college offers its response in a statement provided to our news partner KETK. The college says at the conclusion of the game, KC fans and players gathered at center court to celebrate, and that KC players then headed to their locker room. The statement says, “Several individuals from Navarro were upset from the celebrating that was taking place and began verbalizing their disapproval which began to inflame the crowd. At this point, both teams had gone to their respective locker rooms. KC students were at mid-court, but never at any point crossed the floor to the Navarro side of the gym.

“KCPD, administrators and staff were present and were attempting to disperse the crowd gathered in the gym when players from Navarro came out of their locker room and tried enter onto the gym floor. Some of these Navarro players were being restrained by other players or fans. KCPD officers responded to the area where the Navarro players were trying to come out onto the floor and ordered them back into their locker room. Navarro players re-entered their locker room area, but Navarro fans kept verbalizing disapproval of the way the game turned out.

“At this point, a student manager for Navarro who was sitting on the second level behind the Navarro bench began repeatedly blowing a whistle. Navarro players once again attempted to enter the court. KC policemen instructed the Navarro players to get back in their locker room. The players ignored this request by KCPD and made threats toward the KC officers who were giving instructions. KCPD officers tried to back the Navarro players down the hallway leading toward their locker room, but the Navarro players were still being uncooperative and were still making threats toward KCPD officers. At this point, two KCPD officers deployed pepper spray in an attempt to gain control of the situation.

“Kilgore College athletic training personnel were present and provided care and assistance to the Navarro players affected by the pepper spray. After this, order was maintained and everyone eventually left the gym. Witnesses have reported that there were individuals from Navarro that were engaged in conduct that made it appear that they were purposefully trying to incite the crowd.

“This incident is still under investigation. At this time no criminal charges have been filed against any players or fans at the game, but the possibility has not been ruled out. The control measures used by KCPD officers will be investigated and a determination will be made as to whether these actions were done in accordance to departmental policy and/or state law. As part of the investigation, KCPD is currently taking statements from fans who witnessed what happened at the game. No KC players, coaches or fans were involved in the incident.”

HENDERSON — In May, Henderson voters will be asked to approve a bond issue to build a new middle school. School trustees approved the $27 million bond proposal at a noon meeting Monday. KETK reports supporters of the proposal say the current middle school is too old, and is not safe. They say the ten buildings with 44 entrances is too difficult to keep secure. The proposal calls for a new middle school the to be built adjacent to the current building, on the practice field. If approved by voters in May, it is projected the project would be completed in 2015.

RUSK COUNTY — Proximity to the Keystone XL pipeline being built through East Texas is said to be one reason for continuing interest in development of a refinery in Rusk County. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The proposed refinery, which could produce 40,000 barrels a day and carries a price tag of about $220 million, would be built on a site near New London.

“(The Keystone pipeline) is crossing Texas 64 no more than about 12 to 15 miles from there,” said Miles Toler, spokesman for Rusk County Refinery, the new group pushing the development. “And of course there’s lots of pipe in the area, some railroad availability, and that property really lent itself to what we want to do.” Toler said the refinery being planned would produce three grades of gasoline and three grades of fuel oil, including diesel and jet fuel.

TYLER — Last month, Chris Barrios and Lenard Crabb, native East Texans, were involved in an oil field explosion near San Antonio. According to KETK, both men were critically injured. Fortunately they survived the blast, but now comes to daunting task of rehabilitation along with a growing stack of medical bills. Jarett Stephenson is a friend of the men. He headed up a benefit for Lenard and Chris at Lago del Pino last Saturday. Country music artist Taylor Heard and Felix Vasquez with the Bill Hilly band performed at the benefit. A donation account has also been set up for Crabb and Barrios at Citizens National Bank. On the memo line write in “Barrios and Crabb benefit fund – Split.”

SMITH COUNTY — Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered at Rose City Flying Clays, north of Tyler, Saturday for a “Day of Resistance” rally. The event, similar to others nationwide, is termed a grassroots effort to organize local conservatives to stand up and protect their 2nd amendment rights. Former Smith County Republican chairman and current Grassroots America – We the People member Ashton Oravetz says the power of the American people is potent. He told KETK he was pleased to see the effort happening locally and across the country. Grassroots America executive director JoAnn Fleming spoke about preserving the second amendment and American liberty. “Never let it be said that liberty died on our watch,” said Fleming.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith took a stand publicly. Smith told the crowd, “We here in Smith County, Smith County Sheriff’s office, and I assure you every sheriff across the state of Texas, the other 253 of them — I would expect to stand right along beside me in defending your right to keep and bear arms should anyone try and take it away from you.” State Representative Bryan Hughes ran down the list of current bills in our state legislature that he says are aimed at protecting the 2nd amendment and pushing back against Washington.

LONGVIEW — A Gilmer man was placed in the Gregg County Jail on $300,000 bond, accused of sexually assaulting a South Longview store clerk during business hours. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. According to a criminal complaint filed for his arrest, Shawn Michael Willard, 28, entered the Chanel Stop and Shop in the 500 block of Mobberly Avenue just after the store opened at 7:00am February 16. The victim told police “the subject made her uneasy and … she told her manager about the person…The manager came to the store and, when she did, the subject left.”

The man came back once the manager left, according to the complaint. Police said Willard forced the woman into a back room and sexually assaulted her. According to the complaint, Willard threatened to cut the woman if she fought back during the assault, choking her and pressing down on her throat with his foot. The sexual assault was interrupted when customers came into the store, the victim told police. “During the assault, she heard the bells on the front door of the store and started screaming,” the complaint said. “She said that the subject got up and left the room.”

Longview police who arrived on the scene said the woman was crying and her shirt was torn at the neck, her shoulder and back were covered in dirt, and she had what appeared to be a fresh cut over her right eye. Both customers who entered the store told police they heard a woman screaming and crying. They said they saw a man leaving the store, pulling up his pants.

Police found Willard at a barber college in the 2400 block of South High Street after they responded to a call of a “mental subject.” Employees at the shop said Willard was acting delusional. After waiting, police said they saw Willard walk to a blue Dodge Caravan that had a temporary tag, the same vehicle the customers who interrupted the assault described. Willard was arrested by Longview police on Monday and charged with attempted aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP/Staff) – A TransCanada spokesman says construction on the Oklahoma and Texas portion of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline is halfway complete. The larger pipeline still waits for federal approval because it crosses the Canadian border, but TransCanada spokesman David Dodson says construction on the smaller segment should be finished by the end of the year. He says about 850 workers in Oklahoma and 3,000 more in Texas are working on the project in mostly temporary jobs. The pipeline would transport 700,000 gallons of oil daily from the pipeline hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, to refineries near Houston. It will run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. At least 10 Oklahomans have been arrested recently for trespassing in protests against the pipeline at construction sites in the state.

OVERTON — The City of Overton is asking citizens to limit water usage effective today, for 2-3 weeks, while the City works on one of its water storage tanks. Officials say one third of the water storage supply will be out of commission for refurbish work on the tank. They say the work may take 2-3 weeks to complete.

TYLER — Dozens were encouraged Saturday night to look to the past as a way of addressing the present and the future. The occasion was Tyler’s Annual City Wide Black History Program at the Rose Garden Center; the speaker was media figure, author, educator, and philanthropist Dr. Bertice Berry.

Berry told the audience, “In order to change the world, we have to change ourselves,” adding, “You can’t go forward without looking back.” She said past experiences often keep people from where they need to be, so it’s necessary to look back and deal with those experiences. She also advised attendees to draw on the wisdom of their elders. The importance of forgiveness and gratitude were two other themes addressed by Berry. Toward the end of her speech, she urged the audience to celebrate the past while learning from it, adding, “Black History Month is every month, and every day is black history day.”

Also at the gathering, postal Service representatives unveiled the 36th Black Heritage stamp, featuring civil rights icon Rosa Parks.

CORPUS CHRISTI — Tyler ISD recently received a total of 30 awards for distinguished achievement in school communications. The awards were announced this past week at the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) Star Awards Celebration during the association’s annual conference in Corpus Christi. “I am extremely humbled that the TISD-TV department was one of the top three school districts in the state to earn recognition in the video and cable TV categories,” said Angela Jenkins, Coordinator of TISD-TV and Video Operations. Jenkins, by the way, was inducted as Vice President of the TSPRA East Texas Region. Her new term will continue until February 2015. Jenkins has served as vice president on the TSPRA executive committee since 2010.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler is now offering accelerated degree tracks that allow students to earn a degree faster and begin working sooner. Officials say these programs allow students to complete a bachelor of science in just three years and include the flexibility of a summer schedule that is entirely online. For more information, contact Kimberlie Carrell, health sciences adviser, at [email protected] or (903) 565-5926; or Amanda Ritchie and Stephanie Long, business advisers, at [email protected] or (903) 566-7363.

In a separate move, UT Tyler is currently accepting students for a program developed to meet the growing demand for more engineers in Texas. UTT, in partnership with Houston Community College, has established the UT Tyler Houston Center for Engineering to help engineering students earn a four-year degree. Beginning this fall, Houston area students will have the convenience of taking HCC and UT Tyler courses at the new center, located on the HCC Alief-Hayes Campus. For more information, contact Jennifer Scott, UT Tyler engineering recruiter, at [email protected] or 903-565-5716; or Dr. James Nelson, UT Tyler College of Engineering and Computer Science dean, at [email protected] or 903-566-7267.

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

GREGG COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume pavement-repair work on State Highway 42 between Farm Road 2206 west of Longview and Farm Road 1252 north of Kilgore. Recent work in this location has produced lengthy delays for traffic and motorists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume spot resurfacing operations on U.S. Highway 69 at the Sabine River and in various locations on Loop 564 in Mineola.Also in Wood County, construction crews are scheduled to continue resurfacing work in various locations on State Highway 182 between Alba and Quitman, and on Farm Road 1804 (Hoard Road) between U.S. Highway 80 and the Smith County Line in preparation for a seal coat application later this summer. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 782 northeast of Henderson between Farm Road 1716 in Oak Hill and State Highway 149 near the Gregg County Line. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

Looking ahead to March 4, TxDOT construction contractor Longview Bridge and Road is scheduled to close Farm Road 1798 to all traffic on either side of U.S. Highway 259 between Henderson and Mount Enterprise so crews can begin building the overpass structure across US 259. The work is scheduled to be completed by July 4, but meanwhile traffic will be unable to access Farm Road 1798 from US 259. Marked detours will be in place.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume spot resurfacing operations on Farm Road 2326 south of Malakoff. 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 continue fog seal operations on Interstate Highway 20 frontage roads between Farm Road 1255 and Farm Road 16. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers and pilot vehicles will control traffic.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to clean drainage ditches on Farm Road 2767 between Farm Road 2908 and Farm Road 757, followed by the same work on Farm Road 3053 just south of IH 20 near Liberty City. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to make base and pavement repairs on Farm Road 343 east of U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk, and continue edge work on FM 855 near Mount Selman. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to resume spot resurfacing work on FM 321 in Yard. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

RUSK COUNTY — Plans for a refinery to be built in western Rusk County have been jettisoned by the group that’s been working on the project for more than a year. However, a different group is working to obtain financing for a refinery to be built in the same area near New London, a spokesman said. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Ken Williams, owner of Gregg County Refinery and principal agent for the group that was pushing the original development plan, confirmed Thursday the effort had ended. The plan called for utilizing the long-idled Longview Refinery on Premiere Road as a terminal and portions of the refinery equipment being dismantled and used at the new site.

The 30,000-barrel-a-day facility was to be financed mainly with $182 million in low-interest Hurricane Ike bonds channeled through the Angelina-Neches River Authority. The total project was estimated to cost more than $300 million. But the effort stalled in late 2012 after the group failed to meet deadlines to receive the tax-exempt bonds. Since then, a new ownership group has been formed, said consultant Duane Gordy, a spokesman for the group that has taken the working name of Rusk County Refinery. Tulsa oilman Coleman Ferguson is the principal agent, he said.

“When we didn’t get the Hurricane Ike bonds, it changed the funding mechanism,” said Gordy, who also was involved in the original effort. “We still want to work with the Angelina-Neches River Authority, and we are still looking at the same location.”

AUSTIN (AP) – A former Texas Capitol staffer has received a suspended sentence a day after being convicted of a 2011 hit-and-run that left a pedestrian dead. A jury Friday recommended Gabrielle Nestande receive a suspended 10-year sentence and be issued a $10,000 fine. The Travis County jury convicted the 25-year-old Nestande on Thursday of criminally negligent homicide. The Austin woman worked for state Rep. Wayne Christian of Center at the time of the May 2011 accident that killed 30-year-old Courtney Griffin. Griffin’s body was discovered in a driveway. Officers located a nearby car with a broken windshield. The vehicle was traced to Nestande. Judge Karen Sage has ordered a pre-sentencing review, and the final terms of Nestande’s punishment will be determined at a hearing March 25.

HEMPHILL (AP/Staff) — One woman is dead after a tornado whipped through rural East Texas. According to KETK, weather officials have determined that the twister was an EF-1. That category includes tornadoes with winds of 86-110 mph. Sabine County Sheriff Tom Maddox says the storm streaked across the southwestern corner of the county on the Louisiana border about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Maddox says the storm dropped a tree limb onto a mobile home, fatally injuring 74-year-old Louise Pillow Stringer. Maddox says 25 homes were damaged.