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TYLER – The 20th annual Pantry Raid competition between Robert E. Lee and John Tyler High School students is underway. For two decades, the students at each school have had a friendly competition to feed hungry East Texans. The students collect food during Pantry Raid for the East Texas Food Bank. The school that collects the most food will earn bragging rights and proudly display the traveling trophy at their school.

In the past 19 years, the students have collected over 862,000 pounds of food. The Pantry Raid results will be announced at the Robert E. Lee and John Tyler football game on Friday at the beginning of halftime. “We are so thankful to the students who have continued the tradition of taking action against hunger in our community,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “The food collected by the students will be given to children, families and seniors who are struggling to put food on their tables.”

TYLER — Police in Tyler are encouraging residents to sign up for the annual Texans Against Crime (T.A.C.) night out. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 12th , 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. T.A.C. celebrations are held throughout East Texas on the second Tuesday in October. Last year the City of Tyler had approximately 90 block parties throughout the City to promote the program, and they’re hoping for a similar number, or more, this year. Community Response Officer James McCraw says he hopes you’ll sign up as soon as possible so police can start establishing their list of parties. You can register online at http://www.tylerpolice.com or call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1096.

Police say the T.A.C. program is an annual event designed to unite neighbors and communities to encourage neighborhood communication, community involvement and crime prevention to create safer neighborhoods. T.A.C. encourages neighborhoods to host block parties as an opportunity to get to know your neighbor and fight crime. McCraw says he knows things like buying food for a block party can pose a financial burden. He says one answer is just to keep your party simple — perhaps nothing more than a small gathering on the street.

Police say T.A.C. promotes neighborhood alliances to strengthen communities and preserve the quality of life in East Texas. According to police, the program helps to educate families, friends and neighbors about crime prevention and inform residents that communities are safer when neighbors work together. Police add that getting to know your neighbors is an important step in keeping your community safe.

JACKSONVILLE — A Jacksonville couple are riding their horses — all the way to El Paso. Bob and Sharon Slayden will stay in the saddle though the end of the month as they trek 764 miles on their quarter horses to raise awareness and money for the American Cancer Society. Sharon says this is personal, noting, “My mom died of pancreatic cancer; I have a sister-in-law right now who’s going through brain cancer; and my husband’s mother and daddy died of cancer.” According to Sharon, research is so fantastic today “that a lot of people are getting healed and they’re ‘getting more birthdays,’ as we call it. You know, we’re susceptible to it, because genetically, it moves forward in the family. So we have to know this, and we have to let people know about it — that they can be helped.”

Sharon says she and Bob are covering 25 to 30 miles a day. This is their second such ride; last year they raised a little more than $3,000, and Sharon thinks they’ll do better this year.

TYLER — A man dies in a fall from a tree in Tyler. Police say on Monday at about 12:30 p.m., an accidental injury was reported to Tyler Police Department Dispatchers. According to authorities, a man had been trimming a tree in the 1300 block of South Kennedy Ave. and had fallen from the tree — a distance of approximately fifty feet to the ground.

A witness had observed the accident and called the Tyler Police Department. An ambulance and a Tyler Fire Department first responder unit were dispatched to aid the victim. They prepared the victim for transport to East Texas Medical Center, and he was immediately transported. Shortly after his arrival at the hospital he was pronounced dead from his injuries. An investigation and inquest were conducted, and the case was closed as an accidental injury. Next of kin were notified at the hospital. The victim is identified as 48-year-old Gabino Torrescano of Tyler.

DALLAS – Seven Tyler stores were awarded top honors this month as ShopAcrossTexas.com released its annual Best Stores in Town list. The complete list will be released to the public throughout the coming weeks via ShopAcrossTexas.com. The Tyler stores that made the list are Spinout, Bridgette’s, Haute Totz, Mary V’s, Harley’s Suit Club, Ye Olde Flea Market & Antique Mall and London Shoppe Antiques. The list was determined through a six-week survey conducted on ShopAcrossTexas.com, in which readers voted for their favorite retail across the Lone Star state. You can log onto http://www.ShopAcrossTexas.com to read comments about the stores.

TYLER — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White drops by the Smith County Central Labor Council’s Labor Day Picnic at Tyler’s Lindsey Park. White says Labor Day’s a time to “give thanks” that there are “people who work long hard hours that have moved our country forward in so many ways.” White also said there’s been great response to his border security plan — a thousand new police officers and deputy sheriffs all along the border. White says that presence will send a clear signal to gang members and narco traffickers that things won’t be safe for them if they cross that river.”

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department arrested five people during the beginning of a Labor Day weekend crackdown on drunken driving. The department is one of the law enforcement agencies across North Texas that are participating in the “no refusal” initiative that began at 6 p.m. Friday and ends Tuesday. If a DWI suspect refuses to provide a breath or blood sample, officials will get a warrant for a blood sample.

A first-offense DWI can result in a maximum of six months in jail, a $2,000 fine and driver’s license suspension for a year, police said. Arrested Friday night or early Saturday morning were:

Luis Corona, 17, of Longview, who remained jailed Saturday on $1,000 bond, charged with driving while intoxicated.

Terese Hembrough, 47, of Longview, who remained jailed Saturday on $2,500 bond, charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense.

Anthony Ponce, 23, of Longview, who remained jailed Saturday on $2,500 bond, charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense.

Michael Taylor, 51, of Longview, who remained jailed Saturday, charged with driving while intoxicated and with eight outstanding warrants. Bond has not been set.

Teresa Worthington, 40, of Longview, who remained jailed Saturday on $1,000 bond, charged with driving while intoxicated.

According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Longview police said 208 wrecks since January were caused by drunken drivers.

KEMAH (AP) — A Lufkin motorcyclist died after a brief chase with police. The Houston Chronicle reports that Joshuah Cavins, 27, was thrown from his bike early Saturday in Kemah.

A news release says that Kemah officers saw two motorcycle riders run a red light just after midnight. When officers initiated a traffic stop on both bikes, one motorcyclist complied, but Cavins fled.

After a pursuit, officers lost sight of him. A short time later, his wrecked cycle was found in a ditch. Cavins was found unconscious about 75 feet from the mangled bike and later died from his injuries. The investigation continues.

AUSTIN — Smith County is one of 10 in Texas to be honored by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Leadership Foundation during TAC’s annual conference in Austin.

The programs were selected to receive high honors for innovation, achievement and delivery of service in the 2010 County Best Practice Awards, which recognize county initiatives that serve as a model to others and save taxpayer monies.

“These tough economic times necessitate that counties be pro-active and creative in providing services that improve their communities while, at the same time, saving taxpayer money,” said Kaufman County Judge Wayne Gent, chair of the foundation. “These county programs are doing just that, and we are proud to honor them for their achievements.”

Smith County was honored for Achievement for its Compensatory Time Management Program, which was organized to reduce the ever-increasing and costly payout and accrual of employee-earned compensatory time. The program has helped the sheriff’s department reduce its compensatory time by more than 48%.

“We are very proud of the leadership in our Sheriff’s Office and Auditor’s Department. They stepped up and thought outside the box to reduce our accumulated comp time and ultimately save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the County,” said Comp Time Committee Member and Smith County Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton.

The photo shows the Smith County contingent accepting the Texas Association of Counties Best Practice Award. Shown in the photo, left to right, Smith County Chief Deputy Bobby Garmon, Commissioner JoAnn Hampton, Sheriff J.B. Smith, Auditor Ann Wilson, County Judge Joel Baker and Assistant Auditor Kalisha Boyd.

GILMER – A young Hopkins County second grader has been released from a Dallas hospital after he was hit by a pickup as he had left a school bus. The accident happened shortly after 3:15 Friday afternoon on Highway 11 east at County Road 2331 east of Como-Pickton.

State Trooper Jean Dark says the initial investigation shows the 7 year old boy had exited the bus and was standing on the shoulder of the road. The bus was unloading at the time of the incident with several vehicles stopped behind it. A pickup truck driven by a lone sixteen-year-old male driver came upon the group of stopped vehicles and had to take evasive action to the right to avoid colliding with one of the vehicles. The teen drove the pickup on the shoulder of the road and hit the child. There were no other injuries reported and the school bus was not struck by the pickup.

GILMER -– Upshur County’s chief juvenile probation officer and two former officers were arrested and released Friday on forgery of government documents charges, Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said. Juvenile Chief Milton Wylie, 59, and former officers Sandra Edwards, 48, and Lorie Davidson, 43, were indicted by a grand jury after a March investigation in response to allegations made by employees, Byrd said.

The county’s juvenile board asked Byrd to contact Texas Rangers about the allegations, and the investigation began, he said. The juvenile board consists of County Judge Dean Fowler and District Judge Lauren Parrish, with Fowler serving as chairman. The Texas Rangers submitted findings to Byrd that lad to the forgery charges, Byrd said. “The charges against all three involve different documents and different time periods,” Byrd said.

“Chief Wylie has served our county and juvenile probation department for many years,” Byrd said. “He is liked and respected by many, including myself. This is a difficult situation. However, we will see that justice is accomplished and that the requirements of our duties are met.”

TYLER – Anyone who drives on Tyler’s Loop 323 can tell you how congested it can be. Now, a portion of the loop has made TxDOT’s list of the 100 most congested roads in the state. The section of the loop from South Broadway to University Boulevard ranks 54th on the list. TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz tells KETK-TV “We’re actually outgrowing our transportation infrastructure.” Officials are encouraging drivers to use alternate routes, like the Grande extension. Krantz says they hope to be off of the list next year. Until then, he says they will try to work with the city and county to extend other roads in the city.

TYLER – A Tyler woman is free on bond following the wreck that injured her and killed the driver of the other car. Jerdene Boyd, 50, was arrested for possession of marijuana and an out-standing warrant out of Smith County. She also is facing charges in the accident after completion of the investigation.

The accident happened shortly after 1:15 Thursday in the 7600 block of S. Broadway at the intersection of Heritage. According to police spokesman Don Martin, a Tyler officer clocked Boyd’s dark green, Nissan Sentra, traveling north bound on South Broadway at a high rate of speed. The officer pulled out and attempted to catch up with the speeding vehicle. The officer observed the Nissan passing other vehicles on the right shoulder near the intersection of South Broadway and Cumberland. The Nissan continued to travel northbound and the officer determined that he would not be able to catch it and halted the pursuit.

The Nissan continued North to the intersection of Heritage and South Broadway where it crashed into the rear of a white, Toyota Camry that was sitting in the outside traffic lane, waiting for the light to change at Heritage. The driver of the Toyota was dead in the over turned vehicle when emergency personnel arrived on the scene. The driver was a Robert Dane Bass, 55, from Plano. Bass was a Tyler native and a 1973 graduate of Robert E Lee High School.

EAST TEXAS — The cities of Alba and Mineola are looking at becoming wet. According to KETK, residents are currently collecting signatures to gain support on the issue. Mineola would need to obtain 349 signatures and Alba would need 35 from eligible voters in order to call an election. The alcohol store nearest to Mineola is in Big Sandy, while Alba residents travel to Tawakoni.

TYLER — Texas Tea Partiers, including here in East Texas, are not happy with the National Republican Senatorial Committee — or its chairman, Sen. John Cornyn. According to KETK, Tea Partiers are gathering across Texas outside all of Cornyn’s offices; dozens protested outside his office in Tyler. Cornyn is accused of trying to help incumbent Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski get elected. Murkowski has conceded the election to Tea Party candidate Joe Miller. One area Tea Partier says, “This is about the fourth time our Sen. Cornyn has gotten involved in trying to assist a ‘rhino’ (‘Republican in Name Only’) Republican to get elected.” Cornyn and the NRSC say they’re weren’t trying to pick their own primary candidate — that it’s all a misunderstanding. They claim the only people who decided this election were the voters of Alaska — “as it should be.”