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SMITH COUNTY — Smith County fire officials are continuing to investigate a mobile home fire on CR 1104 in the Noonday area around 8:30 Friday morning. Officials say the home was completely destroyed. According to KETK, no one was home at the time of the blaze. Some nearby trees also caught fire. Officials say CR 1104 was shut down due to the threat of a propane tank exploding.

The fire marshal says there was a family argument at the home at 2 a.m. and the home owner, Daniel Hippe, asked everyone to leave. Officials say they don’t know what started the argument, but that it’s a linchpin to the investigation. However, investigators said they don’t believe the probe will lead to an arrest. The exact cause of the fire is still being sought.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) has announced that American HomePatient, Inc., one of the nation’s largest home health care providers, will expand its patient support center operations into Longview this summer. The firm will occupy an existing building at 2920 Tuttle Boulevard and will employ over 200 when fully operational.

American HomePatient is a national respiratory provider with locations in 35 states. The company is based in Brentwood, Tennessee, and owned by funds managed by Highland Capital Management, L.P. (Highland), a Dallas-based, SEC-registered investment adviser with approximately $23 billion of assets under management. The focus of American HomePatient is respiratory services, delivering sleep therapy, aerosolized medications and oxygen to patients across the country. From the Longview facility, the firm will provide telephonic support for its customer patients to monitor their therapy.

“The economic impact to the Longview area will be significant,” said Steve Metcalf, President of the LEDCO Board of Directors. “American HomePatient will invest in new equipment and facilities in the City of Longview, Gregg County and the Longview Independent School District. The total payroll, benefits, capital investment and taxes paid will reach $80 million over the next ten years.” Patrick Daugherty, Head of Private Equity at Highland, stated: “American HomePatient’s investment in Longview is an important component of the company’s growth strategy and demonstrates Highland’s commitment to American HomePatient.”

A LEDCO news release says LEDCO — aided by city officials and staff, local community colleges and universities, and existing businesses — worked for several months to attract the company to the area. Officials say the company will invest over $300,000 in building improvements and hire approximately 70 people this year. “LEDCO really worked hard to understand our city selection evaluation process and adapted quickly to our needs, making our company feel like we could add value to the community,” said Chris Johnson, American HomePatient Vice President.

In April, the LEDCO Board of Directors unanimously approved a seven year $1.1 million performance grant as an incentive for American HomePatient to expand and grow in Longview. “We are very proud and thankful to our board of directors for their forward-thinking, aggressive approach to this incentive package,” said Susan Mazarakes-Gill, LEDCO’s Executive Director. “This package sets higher, more competitive standards for the economic development industry in the U.S. and proves Longview can compete and win high-wage, sustainable jobs for the region.”

TYLER — A pedestrian suffered serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle. Tyler Police say it happened Friday morning around 10:00 in the 2600 block of South Broadway when a vehicle had pulled out of the U.S. Postal Service driveway heading north and struck a 63-year-old pedestrian as he was crossing the road. Authorities say Larry Taylor, Tyler, was taken to Trinity Mother Frances Hospital by EMS. The driver of the vehicle was interviewed by police at the scene and was released. Taylor was found at fault for failing to yield the right of way.

WINNSBORO — A Winnsboro teen has died in a one-vehicle wreck around 11:45 Thursday night. Hopkins County Department of Public Safety Officials say Autumn Dale Romine, 16, was headed east on Highway 11 near County Road 2401 when her vehicle left the north side of the roadway, hit a tree and caught on fire. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The DPS report said she had been wearing her seat belt but failed to control the car’s speed.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Wednesday after a child told police she was sexually assaulted. Leelliot Deniro Johnson, 31, was arrested around 6:00 in the 300 block of West Cotton Street. Johnson is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 14 years old. His bond was set at $100,000. On May 20th, the victim reportedly told police in a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center that she was sexually assaulted by Johnson on May 7th.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man facing a murder charge in connection with a 2010 drive-by shooting accepted a plea deal Thursday for six years in prison. Elton “June” Gibson, 20, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault in connection with the January 2010 shooting death of Joseph Cooper, 63. In addition to the six-year sentence, Gibson received five years for violating terms of his probation, stemming from a failure to stop and render aid charge in 2009.

Gibson was the last of three to face charges in Cooper’s death. His then girlfriend and co-defendant Kendall Thompson, 20, walked last month on a murder charge, while Johnx Greer, 20, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last week in a plea agreement for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

Gibson was offered the deal in exchange for agreeing to testify against Thompson and Greer about the night Greer reportedly shot and killed Cooper.

DALLAS — Noticed more grasshoppers lately? The folks at Texas Agrilife Extension Service have been fielding lots of calls from folks who are seeing more of the insects. They’re especially more noticeable in Northeast Texas, from Fort Worth to Smith and Rusk Counties. The Extension’s Dr. Chris Sansone says it’s all courtesy of the drought. According to Sansone, “It’s dry, grasshoppers are moving off their natural feeding deals and coming into hay pastures, so producers are trying to defend their hay pastures. Homeowners still are trying to keep their landscapes alive, and grasshoppers are coming in and eating their landscape.” Sansone says people normally think of insect outbreaks happening when it’s wet, but drier conditions lead to an uptick of these critters.

TYLER — According to documents from the Texas Ethics Commission, Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith broke multiple Election Codes and Ethics Commission Rules. The documents state Sheriff Smith did not disclose campaign contributions, file a timely semiannual campaign finance report, or file campaign finance reports correctly; was improperly reimbursed for political expenditures; and used contributions for personal use. Reports show Sheriff Smith used $3,920.36 worth of political contributions for two books, one of which has been published, “The Christmas Day Murders.” The commission fined Sheriff Smith $1,600 for his violations. Smith wasn’t immediately available for comment.

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center has announced its 15th anniversary season. The Distinguished Lecture Series includes An Evening with Senator Fred Thompson September 13 and An Evening with P.J. O’Rourke January 19. Among the other offerings: Disney’s “Beauty And The Beast” on October 22, Huey Lewis and The News October 29, Tony winner Idina Menzel November 19, Mel Brooks’s new musical “Young Frankenstein” on March 16, and Bill Cosby April 14. New season subscriptions are on sale now at http://www.cowancenter.org or at the Cowan Center box office. You can also call 903-566-7424. Box office hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. The deadline to purchase season subscriptions is Friday, August 5.

“We are so proud of the talent and variety we have put together for East Texas performing arts fans to enjoy this season,” Thomae-Morphew said. “A million memories have been created since our center opened its doors in 1997, and we plan to make more great ones with our fifteenth anniversary celebration. Buying season tickets is the only way to assure patrons of getting the best seats at the lowest price. In addition, our subscribers become part of our Cowan Center family with their loyal attendance. We hope everyone will consider subscribing to one, two or all of our series.”

TYLER — A Tyler woman who’d pleaded guilty to manslaughter gets 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence she could have received. Authorities say Jerdene Boyd, 51, had trace amounts of cocaine, marijuana and opiates in her system last September 2 when she ran from police and fatally rear-ended a Plano man. But they say the vehicle was the weapon, and she was not under the influence of the drugs. Authorities say she rear-ended Robert Bass, 55, of Plano, on South Broadway while Bass was stopped at a light. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, investigators determined that Boyd has never been issued a Texas Drivers License and had no insurance.

LUFKIN — Lufkin police officers are looking for two suspects in a late-night robbery at the Dairy Queen at 301 North John Redditt Drive in Lufkin. Around 11:00 Wednesday night, officers responded to the business in reference to a robbery reported to have just occurred. According to police, employees said that two unidentified suspects appeared at the restaurant as the employees were closing for the day, They said one displayed a handgun and ordered the employees to lie on the floor, stole a cash box containing currency, and then fled on foot from the restaurant.

The employees described the suspects as black males, 5’10″ to 6’00” tall, weighing 150 to 175 pounds, wearing dark-colored, long-sleeve shirts with red text or graphics on the front and back sides, dark-colored Dickie-style pants, dark-colored wave caps on their heads, and blue bandanas covering the lower portions of their faces. The responding officers were unable to locate the suspects but recovered evidence from the area; the incident was referred for further investigation.

MOUNT ENTERPRISE — The fire that killed a 25-year-old woman and her two children Tuesday morning has been ruled undetermined, according to the preliminary report issued Wednesday from the state fire marshal. Rusk County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Viki Penny said the fire marshal spent Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday investigating the fire, but was unable to determine an official cause. The fire still is under investigation. Penny said a witness told officials that the fire started near a window air conditioning unit and the house didn’t have any smoke detectors installed.

Firefighters from Mount Enterprise, Eastside, Timpson and Garrison volunteer fire departments were dispatched to the house fire in the 4000 block of County Road 3175 about 6:30 Tuesday morning. After the fire was extinguished several hours later, officials found three bodies in the home. Penny said April Nicole Yarbrough was found dead in the home with her two sons, Zi’Quaven Ki’onta Yarbrough, 7, and Tyrell Deshawn Dixon, 3. Sheriff’s department officials encouraged residents to make sure they have working smoke detectors in their home.

EAST TEXAS — A former Winnsboro band director has been sentenced to prison for sexual assault and indecency with a child. During a sentencing hearing in Franklin County, Paul Bramlett’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to two 15 year prison sentences to be served concurrently. The District Attorney said during the hearing that Bramlett admitted to the crimes and pleaded guilty. He also admitted to having an improper relationship with a student while he was teaching at a private school in Fort Worth.

LONGVIEW — A Longview teen was arrested Wednesday morning after police said he tried to steal a necklace from a convenience store. Dillon Wayne Scott, 17, remained jailed Wednesday on $21,000 bond, charged with theft, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance. Scott was arrested around 1:00 at the Texas Best Smokehouse in the 3300 block of South Eastman Road. During a search, police found 3.6 grams of methamphetamine in his shirt pocket.

LONGVIEW — A Gladewater man was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge after police said he was found passed out in his truck in the Whataburger drive-thru. Leon Charles Gearhart, 49 was released from jail on $5,000 bond, charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense. Longview Police arrested Gearhart around 2:45 Tuesday morning after a Whataburger employee in the 2400 block of Gilmer Road reported that a man was passed out in his vehicle in the drive-thru.

Officials said when police arrived, Gearhart was found asleep in a truck with the vehicle still in drive. The officer put the truck in park, turned off the truck and woke up the driver. Police said he refused part of a sobriety test. Gearhart was transported to the jail for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and a mandatory blood sample was drawn because he had two prior convictions.