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LONGVIEW – Seven Longview businesses have been cited in a tobacco undercover sting operation. Last Friday’s undercover sting utilized 14-16 year old minors, accompanied by Longview Police Officers, who entered stores and attempted to purchase tobacco products. The stings are funded through a grant issued by the Texas Comptroller’s Office.

The Texas Health and Safety Code states that it is unlawful for a person to sell, give or cause to be sold or given a cigarette or tobacco product to someone who is younger than 18 years of age. A violation of this statute is punishable as a class C misdemeanor and the fine is over $500.00.

Citations were issued to the clerk at each location that sold tobacco to the undercover minor and the clerk will have to appear at the Longview Municipal Court to resolve the citation. The undercover officer/minor teams went to 50 Longview area tobacco retailers and of those, 7 retailers sold tobacco to the undercover minors.The locations that sold tobacco products to minors include:

Food Fast, 1316 Alpine Rd
Super 1 Foods, 1217 E. Marshall
Food Fast, 427 E. Loop 281
E-Z Mart, 1910 Judson Rd
Valero, 3400 Gilmer Rd
J&B Food Mart, 1600 S. Green
Briana’s Stop & Shop (Texaco), 3122 Estes Pkwy

KILGORE — Drugs, money, and guns turn up in a weekend traffic stop in Kilgore. According to Kilgore police press materials, just after 2:45 Saturday morning, Corporal Terry Linder stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations in the 200 block of Henderson Blvd. According to KETK, the driver was identified as Jedarious Rashad Lowery, 19, from Dallas, pictured here. During the stop, Corporal Linder reportedly noted evidence of drug activity within the vehicle.

Police say a search of the vehicle resulted in the following items being located and seized: two loaded handguns (one of which was allegedly stolen), several bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $3260 in currency. The driver and two other occupants of the vehicle were arrested. The other two occupants of the vehicle were identified as Kadeem Brackins Ray, 21, from Dallas, and Jerry Bernard Collins II, 22, also from Dallas.

All three were booked into the Kilgore City Jail. During the jail booking process it was reportedly discovered Kadeem Ray had secreted packets of heroin on his person inside of a body cavity. Ray was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center, Longview, where police say 41 packets of heroin were removed from his person. Ray was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, tampering with evidence, and possession of marijuana. Jerry Collins was charged with theft of firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of marijuana. Lowery was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon F3 and possession of marijuana.

TYLER — The man accused of shooting Smith County Deputy Josh Caulkins, Christopher Martin Summerville, 27, has been handed two life sentences after he entered a guilty plea in court Monday afternoon. Summerville was charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant. Judge Jack Skeen of the 241st District Court heard the plea and assessed the sentences. Last October, Summerville was also indicted for aggravated robbery and failure to register as a sex offender.

In March 2011, Smith County Sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Marshals served a warrant on then 26 year old Summerville at The Arbors apartments on Chimney Rock in Tyler for failing to register as a sex offender. When officials attempted to enter the apartment, Summerville shot Caulkins in the chest. Luckily, Caulkins was saved by his bulletproof vest. After the shooting, Summerville was taken to a local hospital for a meth overdose. Officials believed at the time that Summerville injected himself with the drug just before they arrived at his apartment complex.

At the time of the shooting, Summerville was not charged with the assault, but in April, Tyler Police investigators secured the evidence to arrest him for Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer, which is a first degree felony. Summerville was also charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, both first degree felonies. Two other people, Kara Hanley and Jeffery Andrysiak, who were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, were also charged for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.

LUFKIN — As Darnell Bennett, 26, was laid to rest Monday, local authorities hunted the last of five men believed responsible for his murder. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. Rafael Orta, 20, remained at large Monday afternoon while his alleged co-conspirators, Jacob Woodard, 20 (pictured); Osalvado Hernandez-Escamilla, 18; Geraldo Renteria, 18; Jesus Vela, 17, all of Lufkin, were being held in the Angelina County Jail, charged with capital murder.

According to Lufkin Police Det. Cpl. Travis Strickland, Bennett’s shooting death was the result of a robbery pact gone wrong. Around 10:00pm on February 7, the five men reportedly drove to the home Bennett shared with his girlfriend Britney Nerren and her young son at 1408 California Blvd., intending to rob him. Strickland said the men were only acquainted with Bennett as someone who sold marijuana and had no prior issues with him. “They, all five together, decided to go rob my victim,” Strickland said. “No retaliation, no problems, no beef between them. It was a straight robbery.”

Just before the group showed up at Bennett’s back door, he received a phone call, Strickland said. Nerren, who was upstairs with her son at the time of the murder, reportedly heard Bennett asking “Did you call me from a private number?” and then gunshots. “She said she could tell that he was familiar with them and was upset,” Strickland said. “Two of them had guns, but we’ve identified Mr. Woodard as the shooter.” Bennett was taken to Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead just after 10:20 that night.

Woodard was arrested Saturday with the help of the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, while the additional arrests were made Monday, two of those with the help of the Lufkin ISD Police Department, as Renteria and Vela are high school students, Strickland said. Although Bennett may have been targeted because of drug connections, Strickland said it doesn’t lessen the need for justice in the case. “I worked narcotics for a long time and had never seen Mr. Bennett’s name before,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what someone has done in the past, no one deserves to die.” The four men arrested remained in jail Monday afternoon.

LONGVIEW — A man and a woman have been arrested in Longview and accused of stealing copper from a vacant building. According to KETK, Longview police arrested the two on Saturday night after seeing them enter a vacant building on Judson Road. Police say that one suspect, Timothy Emerson, 48, tried to flee, while Melody Hawthorne, 37, was arrested without incident. The copper wire the two were allegedly attempting to steal was recovered. Emerson and Hawthorne have been charged with theft and criminal trespass. Emerson has also been charged with attempting to flee.

TYLER — Five students from The University of Texas at Tyler were awarded top honors at the 2012 National Model United Nations–Europe Conference in Lille, France, Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean, announced. In recognition of their excellence in committee, Alisa Cerney of China Springs, Alina Dolzhenko-Tatkova of the Ukraine, Kenisha Schuster of Comanche, Hannah Waggoner of New London, and Samantha Winn of Tyler received “Outstanding Delegation.” This is the highest honor presented by NMUN and given to the top five delegations based on teamwork, leadership, speaking and negotiating abilities, knowledge of issues and proper use of procedure rules.

The UT Tyler delegation, representing the Republic of Lebanon on three committees, also received the“Outstanding Position Papers” award for papers written for the Security Council and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. This award recognizes high achievement in preparation for the conference as demonstrated through knowledge of the agenda topics, recommendations for courses of action and the ability to effectively communicate the policies of one’s country.

In addition, Schuster, Winn and Cerney were voted “Outstanding Delegates in Committee” by their peers for their exemplary work in committee. Schuster and Winn represented Lebanon on the Security Council, while Cerney represented Lebanon on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. These three students also spoke on behalf of their respective committees at the conference’s closing ceremony.

NOONDAY — Noonday firefighters are called out for a weekend grass fire near the intersection of Highway 155 and CR 189. KETK reports flames sparked next to the Salina Bay RV Park and scorched just under a couple of acres. No injuries were reported.

NACOGDOCHES – Two girls abducted in Nacogdoches County have been released unharmed. The girls, ages 9 and 10, were abducted from a driveway near their residence located off Farm Road 698. The suspect drove west for about a mile before releasing the youngsters. He was driving an older model maroon or red pick-up. The vehicle was believed to be either an extended cab or four door body style and had dents on the fender. He is described as a while male, possibly in his 40s, with a bald head and rotten teeth. He is said to have had a tattoo on his arm. Authorities say he had what appeared to be a camouflage colored hand gun but did not point it directly at the girls.

LAKE PALESTINE — Family and friends grieve in the aftermath of a tragic airplane incident. Fred Scholz, 85, was found dead Saturday morning on the rocks of the Lake Palestine Dam after his plane was found in the lake Thursday. Game Warden Gary Dugan told KETK a bit about how the search for Scholz was conducted. According to Dugan, “First thing we look at is where the wind direction blows during the night, and that’s where we looked that morning because…once they come up, they’ll float that way.” Scholz’s pastor Mark Braaten says he’s been struck by “the support and care of the East Texas community, law enforcement, the neighbors, the church community.” The plane was pulled from the water Friday. An autopsy on Scholz’s body has been ordered.

LAKE PALESTINE (AP/Staff) – Authorities have found the body of a pilot missing after his plane was found in Lake Palestine this week. Capt. Gary Dugan, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden, says the body of 85-year-old Fred Scholz was found Saturday morning on the rocks of the Lake Palestine Dam. Friends tell KETK Scholz was from Iowa and had a part-time residence in the Frankston area. He was reported missing Wednesday after taking off earlier in the day in his single-engine plane from a Jacksonville fueling station. Dive crews found the plane in Lake Palestine on Thursday morning. Department of Public Safety Trooper Lynn Hubert has said all indications are the pilot landed the plane in the water without severely damaging the aircraft and was able to open the window. Dugan says the body has been sent for an autopsy.

LONGVIEW — Friday, February 24, will be the last opportunity for anyone with outstanding city warrants to contact the Longview Municipal Court to make arrangements concerning overdue citations which have resulted in warrants being issued. Police say taking care of the outstanding warrants prior to 4:30pm on the 24th could mean not spending the night in the Gregg County Jail and saving the embarrassment of being arrested in the future.

According to Longview Police Department Sgt. Jack Lanier, on Saturday, February 25, officers will be canvassing the city attempting to locate anyone with outstanding city warrants. If these officers locate someone with warrants, that person will be arrested and taken to jail. If you would like to take care of your warrants while you still have time, you are strongly encouraged to contact the Longview Municipal Court clerks at 903-237-1183 or go to 302 West Cotton Street, Longview, Texas between 7:00am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.

TYLER — Citizens can now pick up their vouchers for the annual Smith County Wide Clean-up Event. The County Clean-up event is an opportunity for residents of Smith County to bring trash and bulky items to the Greenwood Farms Landfill for free. The Smith County Environmental Crimes Unit, Precinct Constables, and Smith County Commissioners Court are working together to host the event February 13-25. The County will provide vouchers to the public that are good for up to three cubic yards per person, about a full-sized truck bed. Vouchers are available to pick up at all Justice of the Peace and Constable Precinct offices or in the Commissioners Court Office at the County Courthouse Annex.

There is a limit of one voucher per household, and businesses may not participate in the voucher program. The vouchers will be good Monday-Friday, 6:30am to 4:30pm, and Saturday from 6:30am to noon throughout the cleanup period. The vouchers come with a list of items that the Greenwood Farms Landfill, an Allied Waste Company, will not take. Directions and a map to the Greenwood Farms Landfill are provided with the vouchers. “Manager Zach Briscoe of Greenwood Farms provides us with services every year to make the County Wide Clean-up event possible. We could not do this without their generosity,” Smith County Environmental Crimes Officer Tommy Goodman said.

Items not accepted during the County Wide Clean-up include hazardous waste, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, gasoline, oils, paint, acid, batteries, asbestos, Freon, whole tires, refrigerators, freezers, televisions and computers. For more information or to pick up your voucher, you can call Pct. 1 Constable Henry Jackson (Tyler), 903-590-2609; Pct. 2 Constable Andy Dunklin (Noonday), 903-590-4840; Pct. 3 Constable Dustin Rust (Troup), 903-842-2664; Pct. 4 Constable John Smith (Winona), 903-590-4879; or Pct. 5 Constable Dennis Taylor (Lindale), 903-590-4901.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is launching a new customer service tool called CitySend that allows residents to report and track service requests using a smartphone or computer. Using CitySend, residents are able to snap a photo or video of an issue, pinpoint the location on a map, and then submit the concern directly to the City of Longview. After the issue is submitted, residents are able to track the response. CitySend also has a news feature that provides updates of City of Longview news and public notices. “Customer service is very important for the City of Longview, and we are hopeful that this can be a great tool for our residents.” says Longview Mayor Jay Dean.

One of the key features of CitySend is the ability to attach a photo and a specific location to a reported issue. “When someone calls in a service request, we don’t always have a clear idea of how big the issue is or what exactly needs to be done until we get to the site. With CitySend though, we can receive a picture and location of the concern in advance, which should be helpful in managing the response,” says City Manager David Willard.

Residents are encouraged to download the CitySend app beginning on Wednesday, February 15. The app is available for free download on iPhone, Android, and Blackberry devices. The app will also be available soon on Windows mobile devices. Go to http://www.LongviewTexas.gov for more information or to submit a request.

TYLER — County Clerk Karen Phillips announced in Commissioners Court this past week that her office is among the seven percent of counties across the State of Texas that will receive a 5-Star Exemplary Award for their Vital Statistics Departments, The award will be presented at the 57th Texas Vital Statistics Annual Conference in Austin this year. Only seventeen of Texas’ 254 Counties in the State have obtained this mark of distinction. “I could not be more proud of the work my deputy clerks accomplished in such a short amount of time. Our Vital Statistic Office Procedures Manual is a result of ambition, determination and team work,” Phillips said.

LAKE PALESTINE -— Crews continue to search for a missing pilot after his plane landed in Lake Palestine. Crews removed the plane from the water Friday. They suspended the search for 85-year-old Fred Scholz overnight but got back to work Saturday morning. Lt. Col. Rick Woolfolk with the Civil Air Patrol says searchers in a boat located the plane around 5:00 Thursday morning. Friends of Scholz have told KETK he is from Iowa, with a part time residence in the Frankston area.

Woolfolk says sonar was used to find the submerged plane, in about 20 feet of water. Divers were sent to the scene. Woolfolk says the pilot was alone Wednesday afternoon when he flew from Aero Estates, in the Jacksonville area, to Frankston to refuel and then head home. A relative Wednesday night reported the plane was overdue.

TYLER — Tyler Police respond to to a report of a robbery last night. It happened around 11:05 at the Speedy Exxon Convenience Store, 900 W. Front. Officers said they were advised by the store clerk that the suspect entered the store, showed a knife and demanded money from the register. The clerk told the officers that the suspect had a brown colored scarf over his face and was unable to provide a detailed description. The suspect reportedly fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was reportedly wearing a solid green coat, possibly an old military style jacket and dark pants. He was described to be around 26-27 years of age.

Anyone with information about the suspects involved in this crime are urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF.

TYLER — Tyler police continue to seek a suspect in a convenience store robbery. Friday night just after 11:00, officers responded to the Speedy Exxon Convenience Store at 900 West Front for an armed robbery that had just occurred. According to a police department news release, officers arrived quickly on scene and were advised by the store clerk that the suspect fled the area northbound across Front Street. A search of the area was conducted, but the suspect was not located.

Police say the suspect, upon confronting the store clerk, displayed a knife and demanded the money from the cash register. The suspect then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen wearing a solid green coat, possibly an old military style jacket, dark pants and a tan and brown colored scarf concealing his face. The clerk further advised the suspect appeared to be approximately 26-27 years of age but could not estimate height and weight.

Anyone with information about the suspect involved in this crime is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this, or any, felony case.

SMITH COUNTY — The U.S. Department of State ordered the release of a former Mexican government official from custody after a Tyler traffic stop. One day after being told to release 41-year-old Hector Hernandez Javier Villarreal, the former secretary executive of the Tax Administration Service of Coahulia, Mexico, and his 28-year-old wife, Maria Teresita Botello, authorities said they are once again searching for the couple.

Smith County sheriff’s deputies arrested the couple last week, and federal officials transported them from the Smith County Jail to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, or ICE, of Homeland Security in Dallas. After their arrest, the State Department ordered their release. Villarreal and Botello are wanted for the embezzlement of hundreds of millions, possibly billions, of dollars through Villarreal’s office in Coahuila, Mexico. Smith County Sheriff, J.B. Smith said, in regards to the release, that some people just make mistakes and the paperwork to keep the fugitives was not received in time.

HENDERSON COUNTY — One teen is dead after he was dragged behind a vehicle Thursday night in Henderson County. A group of five people were involved in a fight, and during the fight, Jonathon McRae, 19, of Athens, was dragged and run over by a vehicle, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. The incident happened near the intersection of Farm Road 317 and Farm Road 607 around 9:00pm. According to KETK, the driver of the vehicle was identified as 17-year old John Forester of Athens. Forester fled the scene after running over McRae, but soon after turned himself into authorities. He is charged with accident involving serious bodily injury or death, a third degree felony. Forester’s bail is set at $125,000.

HENDERSON — A Longview teen is charged with a first degree felony after he allegedly attacked a person giving him a ride home. On Tuesday at around 9 p.m., the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence on CR 167D in the Kilgore area in reference to an assault. According to KETK, once deputies arrived at the residence, they noticed the victim lying on the floor, face down and short of breath. The victim was able speak to deputies before being taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The victim stated he had attended a basketball game in Longview, and the suspect, Tate Earnest Nelson, 17, of Longview, asked the victim for a ride. The victim was driving as Nelson was giving directions.

As they reached County Road 167D, Nelson asked the victim to pull over so he could use the rest room. When he returned to the vehicle, he allegedly began choking and assaulting the victim. According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Nelson removed the unconscious victim from the vehicle and after stomping the victim in the head, walked away, leaving the victim on the ground.

A nearby witness stated they were outside when Nelson approached them and began telling them he thought that he had killed the victim and needed help to get rid of the body. The witness refused to help Nelson, and then noticed the victim crawling up the steps of a nearby residence. Authorities say when Nelson noticed the victim wasn’t dead, he fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. The witness stated that before Nelson fled the scene, the victim had made it to the door of the house and the resident called 911.

Authorities say as Nelson fled the scene, he was unaware the victim’s cell phone, equipped with a GPS tracking application, was in the vehicle. A short time later, the GPS tracking application indicated that Nelson was traveling westbound on I-20, near Canton. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch notified the Canton Police Department and Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office with the license plate number and description of the victim’s vehicle. At approximately 10:45 p.m., the Canton Police Department was able to locate the vehicle traveling on I-20; after a brief pursuit, law enforcement deployed spikes to stop the vehicle and Nelson was taken into custody.

Nelson is in the Van Zandt County Jail and charged with aggravated robbery with serious bodily injury, a first degree felony. The victim is currently at home, recuperating from his injuries.

TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) says the Design/Build Contractor, CH2M Hill, is continuing to make progress on the construction of Segment 3B of Toll 49. CH2M Hill is putting the last touches on the SH 64 bridge and will be moving traffic onto the new structure and roadway this month. In preparation for switching traffic onto the new construction, CH2M Hill is increasing activity in this area of the project on Wednesday, February 15th, which officials say will increase congestion in the area. The traffic will move onto the new roadway/bridge beginning February 17th. Officials ask that you allow for potential delays in the area.

TYLER – 51-year-old Kenneth Wise of Bullard has pleaded guilty in Tyler federal court to theft of government property. According to authorities, from March 2007 to April 2011, Wise concealed his ability to work in order to receive more than $65,000 from the Social Security Administration in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The SSDI Program in a federally administered cash assistance program designed to provide a floor of income for workers who become disabled and are unable to work. Wise was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 7, 2011. Wise faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

BROWNSBORO – A suspect is now in custody after a fatal hit and run in Henderson County Thursday night. The pedestrian has been identified as Jonathon Wade McRae, 19. He was killed near the intersection of FM 607 and FM 317. Authorities said John Tanner Forester, 17, of Athens, turned himself in to authorities Friday morning. An investigation is ongoing.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A 17-year-old northeast Texas girl has been indicted on capital murder counts in the deaths of a Texarkana mother and her two children. The Bowie County grand jury returned the indictment Thursday against Rachel Nicole Pittman of Redwater. She remains in the Bowie County jail under $3 million bond and is set for arraignment today.

She’s accused in the May 11 deaths of Amanda Doss, 34, and her two children, Guinevere Doss, 11, and Texas Johnson, 8. Their bodies were pulled from the charred ruins of their home in Redwater, a rural community 13 miles southwest of Texarkana. If convicted, Pittman could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole. A gag order prevents investigators and attorneys from commenting.

TYLER – A man has been seriously injured in a vehicle/pedestrian accident in Tyler. It happened around 6:00 Thursday night in the 2200 block of the West Southwest Loop. The man was walking across the Loop from the north to south and got caught in the traffic. An eastbound pickup tried unsuccessfully to avoid the pedestrian. The 65 year old man was taken to East Texas Medical Center for treatment. Police Sgt. Robert Phillips says, while the man’s injuries were serious, they appear to be non-life threatening. The pickup’s driver was not charged in the accident.

TYLER – One person has been arrested after a pickup hits a car and a Tyler building. The accident occurred around 9:00 Thursday night at 1001 East Lake Street. A pickup hit a vehicle in the parking lot and then ended up inside a vacant office building belonging to East Texas Medical Center Hospital. The driver, who fled the scene on foot, was later located and arrested. Christopher Britton, 42, of Palestine, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident as well as driving while Intoxicated.

LONGVIEW – A fire has temporarily closed a Longview deli. It was reported around 5:30 Thursday afternoon at the La Michoacana Meat Market in the 1400 block of Green Street. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary tells the Longview News-Journal, the fire started in a frying kettle, and the fire suppression system in the kettle activated to extinguish the fire. The build up of heat and smoke also activated the overhead sprinklers, which finished extinguishing the fire. After the employees cleaned up, the business reopened.

LUFKIN – An Angelina County woman has pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13 year old boy. Natalie Johnson, 32, of Diboll, entered the guilty plea to aggravated sexual assault of a child in State District Court in Lufkin. Authorities say cell phone records showed more than 1,500 calls and text messages between his phone and Johnson’s phone. She could get up to life in prison. Sentencing has been set for April 30th.

GILMER – The Upshur County grand jury has upgraded the charge against a teen involved in a fatal accident. Originally, Benjamin Lee Powers, 19, of Gilmer, was charged with criminally negligent homicide. This week, the grand jury indicted him for manslaughter.

Authorities say on December 30th, Powers was driving his pickup on Farm Road 49 when he tried to pass a vehicle in a no passing zone. The Department of Public Safety says Powers lost control of the truck and crashed. A passenger, Caderrius Green, 19, of Gilmer, was killed. Powers, and another passenger, Cody Garcia, 17, received minor injuries.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department commissioned two new officers Friday. The ceremony was at 10:30am in the Roy Stone Training Center, located inside the Longview Police Department. The new officers are Aulderson Franklin and Kendric Montgomery.