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GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man was arrested Thursday morning after police said he was driving while intoxicated when he ran through a North Longview church sign and fled. Longview police crash investigator Brad Bell arrested 39-year-old Rufus Dwayne Bowie III about 9:30 near the intersection of Eden Drive and Judson Road, charged with fleeing the scene of a crash and driving while intoxicated. Firefighters were dispatched to True Vision Ministries in the 100 block of East Hoyt Drive at 8:49 in connection with a church sign that had been plowed through.

According to the Longview News-Journal online, Bowie’s vehicle had front-end damage and the grill of the Toyota Altima was gone. Bell said investigators were still looking for missing pieces to Bowie’s vehicle. Bowie failed a field sobriety test, officials said.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A former Lufkin dental assistant turned herself in Wednesday on four counts of prescription fraud. Heather Terry of Huntington, a former Palmer Dental employee, is out of the Angelina County Jail on a collective $20,000 bond.

In the last year, Terry allegedly wrote prescriptions using fraudulent authorization from Dr. Amy Ross and Dr. David Palmer. According to Lufkin Police, at least two of the four counts involve prescriptions for the drug hydrocodone. Terry faces up to 10 years in prison for the third-degree felony charges.

RUSK COUNTY — The Tatum police chief and an officer with the city resigned late Tuesday during a special City Council meeting. Tatum City Secretary Shelly Williams said Police Chief Ron Martin and officer Jeffrey Brock resigned in open session Tuesday night after the council met in closed session for several hours. Their resignations come a week after the council heard allegations against Martin by a woman who said she was forced by the chief to leave her home in her vehicle while she was intoxicated.

LONGVIEW — A Longview native and her husband were among the survivors of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that capsized Friday. The survivors are identified as Tameshia Wilson Gumbs and Kishun Gumbs. Tameshia is a 1999 graduate of Longview High School. Both are said to be fine, according to her mother Debbie Johnson. The Longview News-Journal reports, the Gumbs currently serve in the Navy and were aboard the Concordia on vacation. So far, 11 people are confirmed dead with more than 20 missing after the cruise ship wrecked off the Tuscan coast.

TYLER — Internationally-known minister R.W. Schambach died of heart failure Tuesday night. KETK reports Schambach was 85 years old. He was the co-founder and president of Schambach Ministries, located in Tyler. His program “Power Today” was seen around the world.

TYLER – A 41-year-old Texarkana, Texas, man has been sentenced in Tyler to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Christopher Dale Conley pleaded guilty on Nov. 2, 2011, to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine and the manufacture of methamphetamine on premises where children are present. He was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison on Jan. 17 by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider. Conley was sentenced to 50 months for the manufacturing charge and 50 months for the charge regarding the children. The terms were ordered to be served consecutive to each other.

According to information presented in court, during 2010, Conley purchased items such as lithium batteries in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities. The manufacturing of the methamphetamine took place at a residence where small children were present at the time. Conley was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 11, 2011.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Police say one of two men hospitalized after a stabbing incident has been released from a local hospital. Police tell KETK two brothers were in an argument late Tuesday afternoon over a woman. They say that’s when one left and then came back with a knife. Police say one of the brothers was stabbed in the forearm and had a puncture wound to the back. He has since been released from the hospital. The incident at a house on San Saba Street is under investigation.

WASHINGTON (AP/Staff) – President Barack Obama says he’s denying an application for a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline because a GOP-mandated deadline didn’t allow time for a full review. As currently planned, the pipeline would run through much of East Texas, including eastern Smith County. Obama says his decision isn’t a judgment on the merits of the proposed $7 billion pipeline. Rather, he’s citing the “arbitrary nature” of the Feb. 21 deadline that was set by a GOP-written provision in a recent tax bill that Obama signed.

The president says in a statement that he’s disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced the decision. Obama had until late next month to decide whether the pipeline was in the national interest. Administration officials say the looming deadline cut short the time needed to conduct environmental reviews after the State Department ordered the project developer to find an alternate route to avoid environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska.

The 1,700-mile pipeline would carry oil from tar sands in western Canada to refineries in Texas. It would pass through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Supporters of the pipeline argue that it would alleviate the country’s energy challenges and create jobs; opponents voice concerns about the project’s potential environmental impact.

TYLER — About 150 vendors have gathered today to display their wares to the public at the Tyler Area Chamber’s annual Business Expo. The Chamber’s Henry Bell says it’s an important event that encourages attendees “to make purchases locally more often and to keep the tax dollars and overall dollars in the area.” He says that’s “good for the economy and helps everyone.” The event is free and runs till 5 at Harvey Convention Center.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin woman, arrested on suspicion of drunk driving with a 12-year-old in the car, racked up additional charges after trying to bite an officer’s finger at a local hospital. Lufkin Police became involved with Tycia Rodgers early Tuesday morning after seeing her white Cadillac traveling at a high rate of speed. Officers say she ran a stop light, at which point the officer pulled her over, finding a 12-year-old child as her front-seat passenger.

The officer noticed several signs of intoxication including slurred speech, glassy eyes and balance issues. She failed a sobriety check but refused to have a breath or blood sample taken so the officer had to get a search warrant signed. A family member came to pick up the child.

She was taken to a local hospital to have blood drawn when she reportedly attempted to bite one of the officers. Rodgers was booked on charges of DWI with a child under 15 and resisting arrest.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man was sentenced to 55 years in prison Tuesday afternoon for breaking into a woman’s home and raping her last April. Antonio Brumley, 22, appeared before state District Judge Barry Bryan Tuesday to answer for his actions the night of April 5, 2011. Because of a deal, in exchange for his guilty plea entered in December, the maximum amount of prison time Brumley faced was 60 years on each of two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of aggravated robbery.

The victim said she was awakened by a strange sound and turned on her bedside lamp to see Brumley standing in a corner. He then grabbed her and placed his hands over her nose and mouth. She said he bound her hands behind her back and raped her while beating her in the head. After the first sexual assault, he demanded money from her, and after receiving it, he raped her again. Brumley then left her home.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested a kidnapping suspect. William Easley, 33, Flint, was arrested last night at his residence. This comes after an ordeal at a Tyler grocery store. On Monday around 4:22 p.m., Tyler Police responded to Fresh by Brookshire’s at 6991 Old Jacksonville Highway in reference to an attempted robbery that occurred in the parking lot. Police contacted a 39-year-old female victim who told police that she was exiting her vehicle when she observed a man approaching her door. The victim told police that the suspect told her that he had a gun and was forcing her back into her vehicle.

The victim immediately started to scream for help and was pushing the suspect in order to get out so her screams could be heard. Upon hearing the screams, two customers in the parking lot came running to her aid. The suspect ran from the victim’s vehicle and jumped into a blue, Grand Am vehicle and sped from the scene.

Officers located a suspect vehicle along with a suspect on S. Broadway who was identified and released pending further investigation. Tyler Detectives were able to develop information that allowed them to secure an arrest warrant for kidnapping.

Around 8:30 Tuesday night, law enforcement watching the residence of Easley observed his vehicle at the residence. He was arrested and transported to the Smith County Jail. His bond was set at $150,000.

HARRISON COUNTY — The Hallsville City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to reinstate police officers terminated in December, while the officers hired to replace them are out of jobs, that’s according to the Longview News-Journal. Council members, along with Mayor Jerri Medrano and the city attorney, were in closed session from 6:15 until 9:00 last night before the vote.

Police Chief Greg Scott, Sgt. Mack Fuller and officer T.C. Livingston were terminated Dec. 28 by Medrano. The lone remaining officer, Earl Dykes, resigned in the middle of his shift that same night. Without further explanation, Medrano has said the officers were terminated for violating city policies. She had no comment Tuesday night about the council’s vote.

Since the December firings, the city hired Lukas Reynolds as chief and also hired Shane Guthrie and Paul Montoya as officers. This past week, Robert Perkins, who worked as a reserve deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, was hired for the final officer position.

KILGORE — Four children were injured Tuesday afternoon after a car struck a Kilgore school bus. The Kilgore Independent School District bus was traveling southbound on U.S. 259 when it turned onto Woodlawn Street and was struck by a car, according to Kilgore Police Department Sgt. Will Dietrich. Four students in the bus and the driver of the car were transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Dietrich said it appears the driver of the school bus made an unprotected left turn at the intersection and that the car struck the bus near its rear end. He said there were about 25 children on the bus.

TYLER – The second of two meetings this week is set for tonight as the Tyler Independent School District continues efforts to seek public feedback on the district’s long range plan. Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid will present the proposed plan at a community meeting at 6:30 at Robert E. Lee High School’s Fine Arts Center. That follows a Tuesday gathering at John Tyler High School. “Presenting the proposed long range plan to the public is the next step in a year-long process to work with our community to update our facilities and prepare Tyler ISD for an expected 2,500 additional students by the year 2020,” Reid stated. “Our school board has worked diligently to put this plan together, and we feel it will help us accomplish our goals to support academic progress and create financial efficiencies.”

Over the past year, the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees and Tyler ISD administrators researched best practices from around the state and worked with the Tyler community to develop a plan to improve district facilities and prepare the district for the future. “The Board of Trustees greatly appreciates the community feedback we have received throughout this long range planning process,” Michelle Carr, Board President, said prior to the John Tyler session. “We hope community members will continue to show their support for our schools by attending these meetings and sharing their thoughts with us.” Dr. Reid will present the feedback received at the community meetings to the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees at their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday.

LONGVIEW — Gregg County Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday the autopsy of a 39-year-old Longview woman who was found last week on the side of Interstate 20 showed no signs of trauma. The department is waiting for toxicology reports on the woman identified as Melissa Diane Gonzales, Chief Deputy Chuck Willeford said. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the report from the Tarrant County medical examiner might take more than a couple of months.

The body was found just before noon Wednesday on I-20 near the Estes Parkway exit after a hitchhiker discovered her body behind a concrete barrier in the westbound lane of the roadway. “We’re still following up on leads of people who might have seen her, or who might have been with her,” Willeford said. Willeford said they still were unsure of the nature of her death and couldn’t speculate natural causes, drug overdose or homicide, though he has said the situation is suspicious.

GILMER — An attorney Tuesday dropped all charges against three elected Upshur County officials. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Judges Richard Davis and Diane DeVasto signed orders dropping all cases against Upshur County Sheriff Anthony Betterton and Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree after prosecuting attorney Rick Hagan filed motions to dismiss. Hagan has also filed a motion to dismiss the final pending charge against County Judge Dean Fowler. District Attorney Billy Byrd indicted the three officials in December 2010 after a man was removed from a Commissioners Court meeting for wearing duct tape over his mouth to protest that public comment had been taken off agendas.

Hagan dropped charges of official oppression, abuse of official capacity and gift to a public servant filed against Crabtree. He dropped charges of official oppression and gift to a public servant against Betterton. He also filed a motion to dismiss a charge he brought against Fowler for violation of section 171.004 of the local government code. Davis in October found Fowler not guilty of official oppression and subsequently dropped Fowler’s charge of abuse of official capacity.

In his motions to dismiss, Hagan noted the court had found Fowler not guilty because the prosecution had failed to present enough evidence to show Fowler had a part in removing Jimmy Caughron from the courtroom. Hagan called Fowler “the most culpable of the three” and said he did not believe continued prosecution would “serve the ends of justice.”

TYLER — The United States Marshals Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force facilitated the arrest of Jerry Don Whatley Tuesday. Authorities say Whatley had been on the run for the last five years, and was a Van Zandt County “Most Wanted” Fugitive. Whatley was wanted for bond forfeiture/aggravated sex assault of a child since January 10, 2007. The U.S. Marshals Task Force, Tyler Division, was approached by the Canton, TX, Police Department for help with bringing Whatley to justice. The Tyler U.S. Marshals adopted this fugitive case in October 2011, and investigators began developing various leads to locate him.

This fugitive investigation was accomplished by the network of U.S. Marshals offices around the country. Marshals in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida were involved in this investigation. Over the past several months, Investigators conducted interviews and surveillance at various locations, eventually leading to Whatley’s arrest. It was determined that Whatley was actually living in two places, one in Texas and the other in Okeechobee, Florida, and traveling back and forth. To complicate things even more, authorities say, Whatley had assumed a new identity. In the last few weeks, enough information developed that placed Whatley in Okeechobee.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals, Fort Pierce FL Division, located the address, and observed a vehicle with a Texas plate in the driveway. The arrest culminated with a traffic stop of this vehicle where Whatley was identified as the driver. Authorities say Whatley was found to be in possession of false identification documents. They say the false I.D. card contained his photo, but was bearing the name David Simms. Whatley was also allegedly found to be in possession of counterfeit currency. Whatley is now in custody of the Okeechobee Sheriff’s Office, where he will await extradition proceedings back to Texas. Local charges are also being filed on Whatley in Florida as a result of this arrest.

TYLER — A trip to Austin scheduled by City officials to meet with leadership from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) planned for Tuesday has been canceled as a result of the Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) amending their call on water rights affecting Tyler. “We are extremely happy that the LNVA amended their call so that it no longer affects Tyler,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “Senator (Kevin) Eltife and his staff were instrumental in assisting us with resolving this issue and we are very thankful for their strong representation at the state level.”

In November, the LNVA issued a request to the TCEQ to “call” their water rights on the Neches River. The LNVA’s water rights are senior to those of the City of Tyler and most other water rights holders on the Neches River. This call resulted in an order from the TCEQ to the City of Tyler to maintain and not exceed a specific water level in our lakes that was equal to the level present on Nov. 10, 2011. “The level of the lakes in early November was significantly lower than normal due to the very dry conditions we experienced over the summer and early fall,” said Tyler Water Utilities Managing Director Greg Morgan. “With the expectation that we will experience a dry spring and summer, we were very concerned about this directive.”

Upon learning of the TCEQ order, the City of Tyler filed a motion to overturn the director’s decision with the TCEQ and retained a water law specialist and hydrology engineer to assist with developing a case for the withdrawal of the order. A meeting was planned for Jan. 17 with the Director of the TCEQ; however, before the meeting took place the LNVA issued a request to the TCEQ to amend their call from the original 1913 and 1924 dates to a Nov. 12, 1963 priority date.

Tyler has three separate water rights; the oldest, with a priority date of 1915, is Lake Bellwood. The other two are associated with Lake Tyler/Lake Tyler East with priority dates of 1947, 1953 and 1956, for a total of 40,223.77 acre-feet per year, all designated as municipal, industrial and domestic purposes. “Because Tyler’s water rights are senior to the 1963 date the LNVA is now calling, we will no longer be affected,” added Morgan.

The authority of the TCEQ director to issue a call on water rights was provided in the last Texas State Legislative session. This was only the second time the agency had exercised this authority with the first being another recent call on the Brazos River. In that case the call was graduated, starting with junior rights and escalating as the need grew.

The City of Tyler will continue its current Mandatory Water Restrictions due to the low lake levels. “Given the diminished levels of our reservoirs, we feel it is prudent to continue with the Mandatory Water Restrictions put in place on Dec. 13,” added City Manager Mark McDaniel. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely to determine when these restrictions can be lifted.”

“Step Two” of the Drought Contingency Measures as outlined in Article X (Water Conservation/Emergency Demand Management Plan) and Article VIII of the City of Tyler Code of Ordinances call for mandatory water conservation measures to prohibit water waste. Water waste is defined as washing house windows, sidings, eaves and roof with a hose (without the use of a bucket); washing driveways, streets, curbs and gutters, washing vehicles without a cut-off valve and bucket; unattended sprinkling of landscape shrubs and grass; and filling of swimming pools.

Outdoor water usage, such as irrigation of landscaped areas, is limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0,2,4,6,8) or Saturdays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9). Additionally, irrigation should be done between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Use of hand-held hoses, watering cans and drip systems for irrigation may be done at any time. The goal of the Step Two drought measures is to reduce water consumption by 10 percent.

NOONDAY (AP/Staff) — Authorities have released the names of two Lancaster residents who were victims in a Monday boating accident on Lake Palestine. According to KETK, the woman is 55-year-old Barbara Cooper. She was last reported in fair condition at a Tyler hospital. Her husband, who died, has been identified as 58-year-old Floyd Cooper.

Firefighters from Noonday on Monday afternoon responded to a report of a capsized boat on the lake. Fisherman Paul Dowdy says he and his girlfriend noticed part of a small boat sticking out of the water. Dowdy says they then saw a woman in the water, waving for help, then located her husband nearby.

Officials say the woman was hospitalized for treatment of hypothermia. An autopsy has been ordered on the man. The National Weather Service says conditions in the area Monday afternoon included temperatures in the 60s, with wind gusts topping 20 mph.

OVERTON — The driver of a tractor trailer was transported to an area hospital this morning after his rig went off the roadway and hit a tree near Overton. Department of Public Safety said the driver, Frances Robert Valdetero, 40, was traveling westbound on FM 850 at about 5:00 when the wreck occurred about a mile west of Overton. According to the Longview News-Journal online, when the rig hit the tree, the cab separated from the rest of the rig. Valedetero was transported to Trinity Mother Frances Medical Center in Tyler.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview couple was displaced from their home early this morning after fire department officials said the residents waited an hour to call for help. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said firefighters were dispatched at about 3:30 to the 2100 block of Eckman Street in connection with a residential house fire. Zackary said the couple who lived in the home reported smelling smoke an hour before flames dropped down from the attic into the living area.

Despite the delay in contacting the fire department, Zackary said the fire was contained to the attic and no one was injured. Officials are looking at the electrical system closely to determine what caused the fire. Damage was estimated around $10,000.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Crime Stoppers of Lufkin wants your help identifying the suspects in two theft investigations. Investigators have not found a connection between these crimes or suspects, but both cases involve young men stealing beer from Lufkin-area convenience stores.

The first suspect is a white male with short-cut brown hair wearing a black T-shirt with a white Young and Reckless logo on its front, blue jeans and white Adidas tennis shoes. He moved directly to the store’s beer cooler, grabbed a 30-pack of Coors Light and ran from the store. He appears to have a tattoo on his right forearm, and he fled in a light grey extended-cab Ford Ranger.

The second suspect is a white or Hispanic male wearing a black toboggan, white T-shirt, dark, hooded jacket, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. He too moved directly to a beer cooler and grabbed a 30-pack, he chose Bud Light, and headed for the door, but he stashed the beer when he saw employees watching him. Several minutes later, he picked up the stashed beer and fled the store with several other males in a black, two-door car, possibly an older Honda Civic.

You can view videos of the thefts at http://www.LufkinCrimeStoppers.com.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Bubbles floated through downtown Lufkin Monday morning, evidence of an act of criminal mischief at the Angelina County Courthouse. Although the courthouse was closed for MLK Day, motorists and nearby business employees stopped to stare at the ultimate bubble bath. So far, no suspects have been named.

DIBOLL — Diboll ISD administrators on Thursday apologized for failing to notify a parent after her son was mistakenly thought to be suicidal. As a result of a Facebook post, a high school student in Diboll was called to the counselor’s office because school officials feared he may have been a danger to himself or others. School officials told the student that they had received a phone call from someone who had seen the online post and thought it was a cause for concern. Upon talking with the student, Diboll High School principal Daniel Lopez said, it was apparent there was no threat and that the post had been misinterpreted by the person who called.

“Once we are informed of a potential danger to a student, we are required to follow up on it by law,” Lopez said. “The student involved is a great kid and a really smart young man, and after talking to him we quickly identified that he was no danger to himself or anyone else. In hindsight, it was at that time that we should have notified a parent.”

Lopez said the student was asked if he would like to call his mother, but that he declined. School officials said the failure to notify the boy’s mother was a mistake.

LONGVIEW — About a hundred people united in force, pounding the pavement of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to celebrate the civil rights leader’s birthday. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march down the street that bears his name brought into fruition the Baptist minister’s dream, as black, white and Hispanic people walked through South Longview. Sponsored by the Longview Area Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the event began at Broughton Recreation Center and proceeded north five blocks to Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where a memorial service was held.

“We come to this citywide celebration to celebrate the life and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” the Rev. D.J. Nelson said.

The event, as Nelson described it, brings together individuals under the umbrella of an effort “to maintain the unity that we have discovered,” as well as to find new efforts to stand behind it, united. He encouraged those in attendance to stand together as a united force to improve the city, state, nation and world.

LONGVIEW — Despite a still-recovering economy, Scott Zhorne with Premiere Management said he is charging ahead with a two-building, 30,000-square-foot warehouse/industrial center on Interstate 20 and East Loop 281 in Longview. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Zhorne said the project has one industrial tenant locked in early. Zhorne said the firm was pleased to sign a long-term lease with a strong industrial tenant expanding to the Longview area from Houston. The tenant, Forum Energy Technologies, is a worldwide energy conglomerate that operates in 32 facilities in more than 16 countries and employs 3,000 people across the globe. Sales for Forum topped $1 billion in 2011.

The company has a range of specialties, from testing and certifying frac iron and valves to offering a comprehensive field of remotely operated vehicles for energy construction on the ocean floor. Zhorne said construction is moving along on the site, and he expects Forum to take possession in May. The company expects it will employ up to 10 people at the start. Sales for the company surpassed $1 billion in 2011.

CANTON — Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers authorized a total of $9,275 in rewards for specific anonymous tips in 2011 – twice the value of the rewards offered in 2010, the organization has announced in its annual report to the public. In addition, the group authorized five separate rewards of up to $1,000 each over the course of the year to encourage tips for some still-unsolved crimes. Those additional rewards are still open and waiting for a caller to phone in the right information.

Tips received by Crime Stoppers in 2011 resulted in the arrests of 15 individuals who were wanted by police agencies and sheriff’s deputies for various violent, drug-related, or property crimes, or on active court warrants. Crime Stoppers pays out cash rewards to people who call the tip line, 903-567-STOP (567-7867), and give information anonymously that leads to an arrest.

Among the rewards that are still open and waiting for tips are three older arson fires, the destruction of a modular home along I-20 at Van in August 2010, the November 2010 home and truck arson in connection with a wave of burglaries near Canton, and the Rockin’ H Family Place Café fire in Edgewood in June 2010. There is also an open reward for information about the assault on a Canton police officer behind a shopping center on State Highway 243 in December 2010, as well as vandalism at the city park in Edom in early 2011.

For 2012, Andy Flowers, president of the Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers board, said the board continues to seek additional members, and is also looking for donations that will enable Crime Stoppers to make the public more aware of its activities and the importance of anonymous tips in helping solve crimes. In 2011, Crime Stoppers participated in various festivals and a range of other activities to raise public awareness of the tip line. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http://www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or on Facebook.

TYLER — Tyler observes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Monday. It all began with a 9 a.m. rally on the square that was followed by a march down Broadway and an ecumenical service at 10 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Keynote speaker for the service is Texas College President Dr. Dwight Fennell.

Monday’s downtown activities were arranged by the Tyler Together Race Relations Forum. Forum chair Steve Russell says Dr. King and other civil rights leaders worked to “lift all boats.” Russell says, “It was a rising tide that brought everyone up, and so many other things have been accomplished because of the work done in the civil rights movement.” Forum vice-chair Mary Ransom says, “I think Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., came to give everyone that’s downtrodden, hopeless, some type of hope.”

LONGVIEW — In honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The MLK Planning Committee, the City of Longview, and other community sponsors present the annual MLK Citywide Celebration with events that began Friday and continue through Monday. Under the theme “The Dream, From the Community to the World,” several events have been planned including a banquet, essay contest, art contest, jazz concert, parade, festival, humanitarian celebration, worship service, and a memorial march. You can go to http://longviewtexas.gov/news/news-releases to get details on the activities.

LONGVIEW — Longview wraps up a weekend of activities honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday’s events began with a Table of Brotherhood Breakfast from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. at Johnny Cace’s Seafood and Steakhouse. That was followed by the MLK March from Broughton Recreation Center to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where a midday Memorial Service was held.