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TYLER — Smith County’s financial stability has been recognized when financial institutes Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s gave the county bond ratings of Aa2 and AA+, which are both just a notch below the highest score possible, AAA.

According to an update from Specialized Public Finance, Inc. to the Commissioners Court, the exceptionally high bond rating, along with falling interest rates will make paying off the recently passed jail bond much faster and less expensive than originally anticipated.

A total of $40.875 million in bonds were issued on Tuesday; $35 million from the recently passes jail bond at an interest rate of 2.564% and the refunding of about $5 million in existing county debt at 1.7489% interest. “It’s good to know that we will be able to pay this off even sooner and save money for the citizens of Smith County because of these lower rates and our high bond rating,” County Judge Joel Baker said.

The jail bond component will be structured with a 12 year amortization schedule, which is three years shorter than originally anticipated and the refunding component will save the county approximately $376,000 in total interest expenses. “A county jail with an interest rate of 2.5 is about as low as I have ever seen in this business,” said Financial Analyst Steven Adams.

In addition, S&P revised its Financial Management Assessment to “strong” from “Good” due to the adoption of a formal, long-range capital plan and a formal debt management policy, which is the highest classification.

WINONA – A man has been injured when some bales of hay in a Smith County field caught fire. It was reported around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon off County Road 353 in the northern part of the county. The fire is said to have started when a hired hand began welding on a broken tractor.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has nominated four U.S. attorneys to serve as lead Justice Department prosecutors in each of the four federal judicial districts in Texas. The president nominated interim U.S. Attorney John Bales of the Eastern District of Texas to a full term in that position. Bales is a former FBI agent who has been a federal prosecutor since 1989 and was head of the Eastern District’s criminal division before his promotion in 2009.

Also nominated are Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District for the district’s top job, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Ruth Saldana of the Northern District to that district’s top job, and U.S. Magistrate Robert Pitman of the Northern District for the top Western District job.

The nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.

TYLER — Henderson resident Larry Eugene North, 53, has pleaded guilty to possession of an illegal firearm or destructive device, use of a weapon of mass destruction, and obstruction of mail in Judge John Love’s federal courtroom in Tyler. North is set for sentencing in Judge Leonard Davis’s court this afternoon.

North was accused of placing more than 30 explosive devices into mailboxes and at other locations across East Texas. On April 8, 2010, authorities arrested North as he was placing an explosive in a Tyler mailbox.

He had been under surveillance for about a week before his arrest; a pipe bomb was found in the van he was driving and bomb-making materials were discovered in his home, authorities said. He could face 10 years in prison if convicted. Authorities believe North was responsible for planting 36 devices between February 5 and April 7. No injuries or explosions resulted from the devices.

TYLER — Tyler narcotics investigators have arrested Tara Kay McSwain, 37, owner/manager of East Texas Billing and manager of Apple Swim & Fitness Center, on seven counts of fraudulent possession of controlled substance, a 3rd degree felony. On June 16, an employee of Walgreens at 5415 S. Broadway called police and said there was a woman in the drive-thru attempting to pick up a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. Patrol officers and vice investigators arrived on the scene and took McSwain into custody after further investigation.

Investigators say they found several pieces of paper with physicians’ and patients’ names on them in McSwain’s purse. Police say the materials were discovered during the search incident to arrest and were believed to be used in a fraudulent manner. Police say because of her billing service for physicians, McSwain had access to doctor and patient information.

After investigators contacted several physicians and former patients, they say they developed probable cause that on six different occasions in 2011, McSwain provided fraudulent information to obtain a controlled substance from pharmacies in Tyler. On June 23, investigators arrested McSwain on six warrants for fraudulent possession of controlled substance. McSwain was booked into Smith County Jail on a total bond of $120,000, set by Judge Randall Rogers. Investigators say they are still looking into further incidents involving McSwain.

NEWTON COUNTY — A Lufkin man dies in an industrial accident in Newton County Sunday. Kyle Helton, 22, was working on a pipeline when a manifold fell on him and crushed him. OSHA was called in to investigate.

TROUP — It’s been a little more than a month since Troup became the second city voted wet in Smith County. KETK reports that the Brookshire’s there is now clearing shelves and making space for its first beer and wine shipments. They’re due to arrive sometime this week — just in time to kick off the Fourth of July weekend. So far, Brookshire’s is the only place in the city that’s applied for a liquor license and has been approved to sell alcohol at its store for off-premise consumption.

GLADEWATER — Investigators are following up on a plane crash that happened yesterday morning. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a small plane crashed at Gladewater Municipal Airport on U.S. 271 South. One person was injured in the crash. Gregg County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified at about 7:00 and DPS troopers were dispatched at about 7:45.

According to a Federal Aviation website, the tail numbers on the airplane were registered to a Hallsville man named Ronald Wayne Baker. Good Shepherd Medical Center officials said they had a man listed under that name who was listed in fair condition around 10:00. DPS officials said the man had built the airplane himself and was taking it for its first spin when the plane went down during takeoff. The Longview News-Journal reports the man was 64 years old.

LUFKIN — One man is arrested after an argument with a Lufkin Police Officer. The officer was reportedly responding to a disturbance complaint around 7:45 Saturday night on the 500 block of Homer Street. Gustavo Rodriguez, 33, allegedly started moving toward the officer in an aggressive manner when she used pepper spray to slow him down. He was arrested for assault on a public servant, a second degree felony.

MOUNT PLEASANT – Mount Pleasant detectives are investigating a homicide but do say they have a person of interest in the case. Saturday, they body of Kathleen McNally, 42, was found lying on the floor of a residence in the 400 block of Crooks Drive. An autopsy performed in Dallas Sunday indicated the death was a homicide.

Officers learned of a man seen leaving the area and traced him to the 1300 block of North Edwards. The 48 year old man was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from Camp County for criminal nonsupport/child support. At last report he had not been charged in McNally’s death. The investigation is continuing.

TYLER – The teenage girl accused of starting the June 15th fire at a Tyler Dollar General Store has been sent to a San Antonio psychiatric facility. The order came Monday from Judge Floyd Getz. The judge said there were concerns that the 14 year old Kaufman County girl might not get her required medication if she was to remain at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. The store, which suffered minor damage, has reopened.

TYLER — Lane closures will be in effect on Loop 323 between Shaw Street and Walton Road from 8:00am till 8:00pm today and possibly tomorrow. The lane closures will be in effect on both northbound and southbound sides of the street. Drivers can expect delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes. Drivers are reminded to drive safely and use caution while workers are present.

BEAUMONT – A 44-year-old Lufkin man has been sentenced to life in federal prison for his role in a double homicide that took place in Nacogdoches in August 2007. Carl Carver pleaded guilty in January to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. He was sentenced in Beaumont Monday by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. Specifically, Carver admitted that he had participated by directing two Aryan Brotherhood of Texas subordinates to murder David Mitchamore.

According to federal prosecutors, Carver was a general of the ABT, a race-based statewide organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas and the United States. Authorities say the hierarchical ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise. Members, and often associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, such as Carver, without question.

According to court documents, ABT member David Mitchamore and his girlfriend, Christie Rochelle Brown, were murdered by Brent Stalsby and Charles Cameron Frazier as a result of a “direct order” issued by Carver due to Mitchamore’s failure to repay an outstanding debt he allegedly owed to Carver. The bodies of Mitchamore and Brown were discovered in Nacogdoches County on August 10, 2007. Last month, Brent Stalsby was sentenced to life in federal prison, and his wife, Terry Stalsby, who aided and abetted the double murder, was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison. Last week, Frazier was also sentenced to life in prison.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin couple has been indicted on a charge of child endangerment after their second infant in two years died while sleeping in their bed against Child Protective Services instruction. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. Mark and Vanessa Clark, both 32, were formally charged by a grand jury last Thursday in their infant boy’s July 9, 2010, death, according to District Attorney Clyde Herrington. As for the grand jury’s decision to indict the couple, Herrington said it is a peculiar case as the couple lost another baby in a similar sleeping incident 14 months earlier.

“There was a previous investigation with another child by Child Protective Services. The first infant’s death was ruled (sudden infant death syndrome),” Herrington said. “In the (new) case, the child was about 3 or 4 months old and sleeping in the bed with the parents. They woke up and found him not breathing.” Following the first infant’s death, the couple was given a course by Child Protective Services in safe sleeping practices, according to CPS spokeswoman Shari Pulliam. That information strictly states sleeping with an infant puts the child at risk for suffocation, Pulliam said. Herrington went on to say that the infant’s death is neither a negligent homicide nor a murder, but the grand jury felt the parents put the child in danger by sleeping with him.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are following up in the wake of a fatal accident. Late last Friday afternoon, officers responded to an accident with injuries in the 2400 block of South High Street. A silver Cadillac pulled out from a private drive in front of a silver Dodge pickup that was northbound on High Street. The Cadillac was struck in the area of the driver’s side door, killing the 79-year-old Hispanic male driver. The identity of the victim is known, but police have not been able to locate family members. Anyone with possible information is asked to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1170.