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TYLER — A Tyler jury has assessed a 20 year prison term to a Smith County man for the sexual assault of a child. The sentence was handed down yesterday to Darren Ray Dickens, 45. He pled guilty last week to sexually assaulting some young teenage girls in his home. His sentencing trial was held in Tyler’s 241st State District Court.

FLINT — One person is in custody after leading officers on a nearly 30 minute chase in the southwest part of Smith County. It all started early Tuesday morning on Farm Road 2493. The car stopped near the Southern Trace subdivision near Flint after officers shot at and hit the car’s engine. Taken into custody was Brian Wesley Dowdle, 36, of Flint. He was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated assault on a public servant, evading arrest, criminal mischief, and a parole violation. Investigators say that Dowdle nearly hit some officers who were on foot, but no injuries were reported.

LINDALE — They are still the same campuses that have been a part of Lindale ISD for decades, but they will receive new looks and new names next year. Monday night the Lindale ISD school board approved the name change of the current Lindale Primary School to College Street Elementary School with the start of the 2011-2012 school year. E.J. Moss Intermediate School will become E.J. Moss East and E.J. Moss West next year.

The name changes come in response to the district’s campus realignment after the passage of the 2009 bond election. The $42 million bond includes the construction of a new junior high campus and the addition of classrooms at the high school to eliminate overcrowding. The district approved the realignment of several campuses to help with future student population growth. The current primary campus serves students in first and second grade. Under the 2011-2012 realignment, the campus would serve grades 1-3. Velma Penny Elementary School currently educates students in grades 3-4. The realignment calls for Velma Penny to also serve students in grades 1-3 starting next year.

“A new name was necessary to prevent confusion concerning our two elementary campuses,” LISD Superintendent Stan Surratt said. “College Street Elementary School is a great name because the campus is on College Street, helping to identify the location. It is also symbolic in that we will prepare our young students for college careers if they chose to pursue degrees.”

E.J. Moss Intermediate School will also have a new identity. The campus neighbors the current Lindale Junior High School. The two campuses will be joined to form one school next year. Lindale Junior High School will move to its new building. When the two buildings are connected, the current intermediate campus will be known as E.J. Moss East, and the former junior high building will be E.J. Moss West. Fourth grade students and half of the fifth grade will work out of the E.J. Moss East building, and half of fifth grade and all of sixth grade will work out of E.J. Moss West. There will be functioning cafeterias in each building, two gymnasiums, and two offices. “I am most excited about our plan that prepares this school district for the next 10 to 12 years,” Surratt said. “This plan will provide every campus with room for growth.”

Lindale ISD has grown from 3,338 students in May 2007 to currently 3,778 students, a rate of growth of 13.2%. The campus realignment will give College Street Elementary and Velma Penny Elementary schools capacities of 600. The projected enrollment is 427 students at each campus next year. EJ Moss East and West will have a capacity of 1,200 with a projected enrollment of 838 students. The high school expansion will allow for a capacity of 1,460 students with a projected enrollment for next year of 1,128.

LONGVIEW — According to Longview City Secretary Shelly Ballenger, two candidates have filed to run in the May 14 General Election for City Council. In District 3, 52-year-old administrator/educator Carlton W. Mitchell has filed for the post currently held by Sidney Bell Willis. In District 4, 75-year-old incumbent Wayne Frost has filed for another term. Filing for a place on the ballot began on February 12 and continues through March 14. The last day for a regular write-in candidate to declare candidacy for the General Election is March 21.

HALLSVILLE — An East Texas school chief is asked to leave his post. Hallsville ISD board members met Monday. During the meeting, board member Harold Hunt asked Superintendent Greg Wright to resign. The district recently had to pay the Texas Education Agency over $7 million following unfavorable financial reports. Wright did not respond to Hunt’s comments, and the board took no action on the request.

BEAUMONT – Authorities say a major fugitive wanted on an outstanding Polk County warrant for murder has been arrested by U.S. Marshals of the Joint East Texas Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, Nacogdoches Police Department and Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office. Cordell Renard Green was being sought by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. He’s charged with the murder of Heather Dorris, 25, in Polk County.

On February 11, the United States Marshals Service received a request from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office requesting assistance in locating and apprehending Green. During the course of the investigation, deputies received information placing Green in Alto. Deputies, along with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Alto Police Department, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Alto in an attempt to locate Green. Authorities say Green was able to elude law enforcement until early Saturday morning when a tip from the Alto community placed Green in a wooded area west of town. Cherokee County authorities, the Alto Police Department, a DPS air unit, and a Texas Department of Criminal Justice K-9 unit were reportedly able to track Green through the wooded area to County Road 2501, where authorities say it appears he was picked up by an unknown accomplice.

On Sunday, the USMS received information placing Green at an address on Woden Road in Nacogdoches. Authorities say deputies, along with members of the Nacogdoches Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, converged on the residence, located Green and took him into custody without incident.

NACOGDOCHES — No charges have been filed in a fatal car/pedestrian accident in Nacogdoches. Killed in the Monday night accident was Lynde Kristine Chunn, 28, of Nacogdoches. Investigators say she was crossing in the 4600 block of North Street when she stepped into the path of an oncoming car.

SWAN — A near-fatal crash lands one person in the hospital. State troopers say a woman’s in critical condition after her vehicle crashed into a truck. KETK reports it happened in the Swan community, north of Tyler, around 3 Monday afternoon. That’s when troopers say the woman veered into the path of an oncoming rig towing another 18-wheeler. Troopers say the woman was pinned in the wreck and had to be cut from the wreckage.

TYLER — As part of the Mayor’s Tree Initiative, Artmire’s Urban Forestry has donated 1,000 trees per year for the next five years to be planted at select locations in Faulkner Park, Rose Rudman Trail and Creekside Trail. The project includes all seedlings, amendments and labor for the plantings of Dogwoods, Eastern Redbud and American Beauty Berry. Planting is expected to commence today. “We are so thankful to Artmire’s for their generous donation,” commented Mayor Barbara Bass. “This is a huge step forward in our effort to plant trees throughout the City and to keep Tyler’s urban forest thriving.”

The Mayor’s Tree Tyler initiative was launched in early 2010 with a goal to plant 5,000 trees in five years. Residents are encouraged to go to http://www.TreeTyler.com to register their tree plantings. Since the launch of the program, nearly 400 trees have been registered. “With this new donation, our annual count will reach 1,400 trees,” added Mayor Bass. “Along with our partnership with LT24 and the upcoming Tree Tyler Day, I have no doubt that we will reach our goal well ahead of schedule.”

The City is partnering with LT 24 to hold Tree Tyler Day on March 19, 2011. Tree Tyler Day will give the community the opportunity to come together to work toward reaching the Mayor’s goal of planting 5,000 trees in five years at an inaugural community-wide tree planting event. The partnership sprouted when Mayor Bass spoke with members of the Leadership Tyler 24 class and challenged them to get on board to support the Tree Tyler Initiative. Many members of the class met several times to discuss how they could become involved and ultimately formed LT24.

Between now and the March event, LT 24 will be seeking sponsors for the tree planting event. With sponsorship opportunities ranging from a single tree all the way to 100 trees, the entire community, from school classes to the City’s largest businesses, is encouraged to participate. Go to http://www.TreeTyler.com or http://www.cityoftyler.org to view a flyer detailing Tree Tyler Day sponsorship opportunities. Sponsors who have already committed to the event include: Leo Mack Jr., Adams Engineering, the Native Plant Society, Tyler Men’s Garden Club, Salon Verve and the Bob Shelton Family. To sign up as a Tree Tyler Day sponsor, you can contact the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department at (903) 531-1370.

TYLER — In an effort to bring closure to unresolved warrants, the Tyler Municipal Court has announced that it will participate in the fifth annual statewide warrant sweep set to begin March 5. More than 240 agencies across Texas will be taking part in this effort to resolve outstanding warrants. “Similar sweeps held in past years have been very effective,” said Court Administrator Cam McCabe. “In a concentrated amount of time we have cleared several thousand warrants.” Arrests during the sweep will focus on warrants from all of the participating jurisdictions. Although the concentration is on Class C charges, which include traffic, criminal parking, penal code and City ordinance violations, higher charge warrants will also be served.

Affected persons are urged to contact the appropriate jurisdiction to dispose of their cases voluntarily. For assistance with resolving an outstanding warrant, contact the Municipal Court at 903531-1266. Warrants can also be paid online at http://www.CityofTyler.org under the “I Want To” menu at the top of the page. A kiosk in the lobby of the Municipal Court is also available for those paying with credit cards. Last year during the warrant sweep, the Tyler Municipal Court cleared 2,150 warrants. The Court is open Monday through Friday from 7:00am until 5:00pm.

KILGORE — Kilgore Police are investigating a reported stabbing that lands one woman in jail. It happened Saturday night around 10:30 at 301 Bates Street. Upon arrival, police found the victim, a 26-year-old male, suffering from a stab wound to the chest. The victim was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital. Details of his condition have not been released. Charlene Marie Jackson, 50,Kilgore, was identified by witnesses as the person who stabbed the victim with a knife. She was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony two offense and booked into the Kilgore City Jail. She has since been taken to the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $25,000.00.

GREGG COUNTY — Jury selection begins next Monday for 34-year-old Toronto Eldermek Lockridge, one of two men accused in a 2009 fatal shooting and arson. Lockridge, of Lakeport, faces up to life in prison for shooting 33-year-old Kelvin Muckleroy. Muckleroy’s body was found inside the torched remains of his Chappell Street home, but investigators determined he was shot before the house fire was set.

Lockridge had initially posted $150,000 bond from the Gregg County Jail in January 2010. He was arrested again four days later on a firearm charge, but posted a $35,000 bond on Feb. 18. He has been in jail since Dec. 7 on his latest charge — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for threatening a witness in Muckleroy’s homicide — authorities said. He remains jailed on $150,000 bond.

Gregg County District Judge Alfonso Charles in November convicted co-defendent Brandon Quadnell Horne, 31, of Longview, for his part in Muckleroy’s slaying. A sentencing hearing has not been set, and Horne remains in the Gregg County Jail, records showed.

NACOGDOCHES — Stephen F. Austin State University student Christopher Lamb, 22, was found dead in the living room of a residence in the 1500 block of Leita Lane early Sunday. Lamb reportedly attended a party at the residence on Saturday night, and spent the night sleeping in a chair. He was found around 8 a.m. Sunday by the home’s residents, according to the police report.

TOOL — Authorities are investigating what appears to be the suicide of Tool Mayor Mike Black. He was found in a bathroom of his Henderson County home Sunday morning. He was dead from a gunshot wound to the head. His body was sent to a Dallas lab for autopsy.

The Athens Daily review reports Black was recently divorced, and was facing a criminal indictment for a DUI in the coming weeks. The DUI charge stems from an arrest last year by police in Seven Points.

TYLER — The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) released, at the end of January, its 2010 Higher Performing Schools List for student achievement in the areas of reading, mathematics and science. Now the NCEA has released the schools that have been recognized in the areas of writing and/or social studies.

The following schools received the honor and Higher Performing recognition in the following areas:
•Bell Elementary Global Communications Academy, recognized in Writing
•Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy, recognized in Writing
•Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School, recognized in Writing
•Griffin Elementary School, recognized in Reading and Writing
•Hubbard Middle School, recognized in Writing
•Moore MST Magnet School, recognized in Math

LUFKIN – The tuition at Angelina College is going up. School trustees approved the increase at yesterday’s meeting. In-district tuition will increase from $40 to $48 per semester hour. Out of district tuition goes from $62 to $74 per semester hour. The out of state tuition will go from $89 to $105. The hikes are expected to generate an additional $1.1 million for the college. School trustees said the action was necessary due to cuts from state appropriations and potential cuts during the current legislative session.

GILMER – Two Gilmer residents have died in a motorcycle accident near the Upshur County line on Farm Road 1795. Carl Walthall, 38, and Misty Lay, 36, died in hospitals in Tyler and Gilmer a few hours after the late Sunday afternoon accident.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the victims’ motorcycle was traveling with another motorcycle. When a car drove between the two cycles, the victim’s cycle drove around the car to catch up with the other motorcycle. It was then he lost control of the cycle, it went into a skid and then rolled over.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has named Delbert Horton III of Cooper presiding officer of the Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority for a term to expire February 1, 2013. Regional mobility authorities accelerate the development and financing of critical transportation projects throughout the state.

Horton is a registered professional engineer and an assistant engineering professor at Texas A&M University at Commerce. He is a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and American Society for Engineering Education, and a life senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He is the investment officer and a board member of the Sulphur River Municipal Water District, and past president of the Sulphur River Regional Development Association.

Horton received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and a doctorate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

This appointment is subject to senate confirmation.

RUSK — Cherokee County Sheriff’s officials say a 2-year-old boy shot himself over the weekend at a house just east of Highway 84 and County Road 1201. Deputies say the boy’s mother was in the living room during the time of the incident. Authorities say the boy appears to have used a stool to get the gun case on a counter when he opened the case and shot himself once in the upper right chest, just below the collarbone. The gun is said to have been a small caliber semi-automatic with a round-chambered and fully-loaded magazine. The child is recovering from surgery now, and is listed in critical condition at Dallas Children’s Hospital.

LUFKIN – A medical assessment quickly turns violent Sunday morning in Lufkin. Police say they were called to a house in the 600 block of Lazy Oaks Street to assess the medical condition of Amber Michelle Branum. Family members warned she was intoxicated and aggressive. Officers say while she was being treated at the hospital, Branum punched an emergency room nurse. After being restrained and treated, the woman was booked into the Angelina County Jail on assault charges. The assault caused minor injuries to the nurse’s cheek and throat, but the offense is considered a third-degree felony because the nurse was providing emergency services.

TYLER — The dentist accused of secretly taping two female tenants was back in court yesterday. Judge Skeen set Charles Robinson’s pre-trial date for February 25. His trial date is reset to February 28. Robinson, 58, was arrested back in December and charged with possession of child pornography and improper visual recordings. A 40 year-old woman reported finding video equipment in the attic of a home she was purchasing from her employer, Dr. Robinson. The mother and daughter had been living in the house for four years. Robinson admitted to recording them for the purpose of sexual gratification for the past three years.

JACKSONVILLE — Services are scheduled for longtime Chief of Police. Funeral services for Floyd W. Stiefer, 66, Jacksonville, are scheduled for 2:00 pm Tuesday, February 15, at Autry Funeral Home chapel, Jacksonville. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park, Jacksonville. Mr. Stiefer passed away Friday, February 11, 2011 in Tyler. He was born April 4, 1944 in Jacksonville.

Mr. Stiefer began his career as a public servant in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He began his career in law enforcement in 1974 as a Cherokee County baliff for Judge J. W. Summers. In December 1975 he went to work for the City of Jacksonville as a patrolman. Floyd worked his way through the ranks doing everything, including dispatching. He was Jacksonville’s first Criminal Investigations Officer. In October of 1985 he was promoted to Chief of Police, a position he held until his retirement in January of 2001. While serving the City of Jacksonville, he logged 3,050 hours of police training over the course of his career.

In 1984 he graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. In 1999 he achieved the highest rank possible from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Education and Standards. In 2001 Floyd was elected to City Council Seat for District 4 and went on to serve as Mayor Pro Tem until 2006.

RED SPRINGS — Smith County Fire Marshals confirm a house has been damaged by fire in the 1800 block of County Road 316 near Red Springs. Red Springs and Lindale Fire Departments extinguished the blaze. Officials said flames were shooting out of the front door when they arrived on scene. A family was in the house when the fire was called in at around 10:00 yesterday morning, but they were able to escape uninjured. Portions of the house received heavy smoke and fire damage. Fire officials say they are not able to determine the cause at this time.

LUFKIN — Lufkin police are investigating a the death of a 44-year-old Hispanic man whose body was discovered Sunday morning at a picnic table behind the CVS store on Frank Avenue. Around 9 a.m. someone rode by the park area on Moore Street on a bicycle and noticed the man’s body. The person on the bicycle alerted their family, who then contacted police after checking on the man, Lufkin Police Cpl. Trent Sobolewski said. “We’re investigating, but it appears to be a natural death,” Sobolewski said. “When we got here he was sitting on the bench like he just fell backward against the table.”

WHITE OAK — A one vehicle accident on State Highway 42 near the Sabine River Bridge has killed one person. Dead at the scene of the accident, which was reported around 7:00 Saturday morning was Ivy Leppert, 24, of Kilgore. The Department of Public Safety reports she was traveling at a high rate of speed when she left the road and hit a tree.

LOS ANGELES — Country music star Miranda Lambert has won her first Grammy. The East Texas native and Lindale resident took home the award for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance. It was for her single “The House That Built Me.” The song is from her latest album “Revolution.”

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

TYLER — Texas Department of Transportation contractor R.K. Hall has announced it planned to resume and complete resurfacing operations later this week on West Loop 323 in and around the State Highway 64 intersection. The work, which should last an estimated two days weather and materials permitting, is scheduled to begin Wednesday. “We’ve been looking for a good moment to get back out there and get this finished up,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “There isn’t much left to do, but it’s obvious that it’s not complete.”

Crews will begin working in the northbound lanes between State Highway 31 (Front Street) and State Highway 110 (Van Highway) which will require multiple lane closures while the work is in progress. Once completed, the crews will return to the southbound lanes. Krantz urged motorists to seek alternate routed if possible on Wednesday and Thursday to avoid delays and to allow the project to be completed more rapidly.

“Our materials have to get through traffic to arrive at the job site,” Krantz said. “The longer it takes the materials to arrive, the longer it takes to get them put down on the road.”

LONGVIEW — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform pavement repairs in various locations on State Highway 300 (Gilmer Road), Spur 63, and Spur 502 (Judson Road) in and around Longview. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone.

HENDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue pavement repair operations on State Highway 31 between Trinidad and Malakoff, followed later in the week by the same work on State Highway 31 Business and State Highway 19 Business in downtown Athens. A second crew is scheduled to perform edge repairs in various locations on Farm Road 2010 near Chandler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

ANDERSON COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue fog seal operations on Farm Road 1817 between U.S. Highway 287 and Farm Road 323, and on Farm Road 2330 between State Highway 19 and Farm Road 860. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic. Fog seal operations require lengthy lane closures and can cause moderate delays to traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

RUSK COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to perform base and pavement repairs in various locations on Farm Road 1251 east of Henderson, and of Farm Road 2658 on the west side of Martin Creek Lake. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location 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 resurfacing operations in various locations on Farm Road 858 between State Highway 19 south of Canton and Farm Road 279 in Ben Wheeler. Daytime lane closures will be in effect while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic.

WOOD COUNTY — Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to be at work on the following roadways in and around Wood County:
*FM 778 north of US 80;
*FM 857 near FM 1255; and
*FM 49 east of FM 14.
Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and flaggers will control traffic in two-lane areas.

EAST TEXAS — Privacy at airport check-ins, larger homestead exemptions and open government bills are among measures Northeast Texas lawmakers hope to pass now the 82nd legislative session is good to go. The assignment of House members to their committees this past week means lawmakers can start doing more than passing resolutions honoring clubs and causes back home. That will unloose the Senate from relative inaction, too.

Representatives David Simpson of Longview, Chuck Hopson of Jacksonville and Senator. Kevin Eltife of Tyler, all Republicans, have filed bills they are confident will find support in their GOP-dominated chambers. Those include a bill near and dear to Longview Mayor Jay Dean, who wants to bump up the local hotel/motel tax rate from 7% to 9% of the tab for overnight stays. Dean asked the Gregg County Commissioners Court this past week to build a $10 million events center the city would operate on the increased hotel/motel levy.

It turns out Hopson and Eltife already were working on a bill to hike Tyler’s hotel/motel tax the same degree. Tyler wants to use the increase to build an events center, Eltife said, and both men said Friday that Longview is welcome to tag along.

BULLARD — A propane leak in Southwest Smith County has been contained. The Bullard Fire Department responded to the leak at Glo Flame on Farm Road 2493 between Bullard and Flint Sunday afternoon. The fire department kept the leak contained and as a precaution closed traffic from New England Road to Dodson Spur for around 30 minutes to allow the propane to dissipate. Company officials say the release occurred when a gas relief valve stayed open after releasing extra gas pressure.

TYLER — Michael’s House of Hope, on Highway 155 South outside Tyler, recently received a $10,000 grant award from the Verizon Foundation. Michael’s House personnel say the grant will help MHOH serve the community through its Domestic Violence program that provides an interventional approach through cognitive intervention. According to a news release, “MHOH is proud to be a recipient of this award and will continue to be instrumental in providing housing, spiritual development and job placement to men who have difficulty restructuring their lives.” MHOH personnel say there are many services that serve the victims of domestic abuse, but the perpetrators are often not seen as reparable. MHOH has joined with the Texas Council on Family Violence and has developed a program in Tyler that Michael’s House representatives say will decrease if not eliminate family domestic violence.

According to MHOH representatives, the Verizon Foundation and Michael’s House are making significant progress towards the reduction of domestic violence in East Texas, and the community is urged to get involved. Michael’s House is a ministry of New Life Worship Center in Tyler. It provides transitional housing and support for men who have been affected by substance abuse or homelessness, or have completed a structured program while in prison. You can go to http://www.michaelshouseofhope.com for more information.