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LONGVIEW — The legal fight over the December 2010 death of a Gregg County Jail inmate goes to a last-ditch mediation hearing Friday. Should mediation fail, jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District Court in Marshall. According to the Longview News-Journal, the survivors of Amy Lynn Cowling of Gilmer filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gregg County following her death while in jail custody. Cowling died on the fifth day she was in jail, held on misdemeanor theft charges and unpaid traffic tickets.

The federal court record indicates attorneys will meet Friday in Marshall for a one-day mediation hearing in U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap’s court. This would be the second time mediation has been attempted in the case. Jury selection also is scheduled to begin Monday, with the trial slated for January 22.

CANTON — Police in Greenville still haven’t caught the murderer of teenager Alicia Moore, whose body was dumped in Van Zandt County in November. As of 12:01 Tuesday morning, the investigator on the case in Van Zandt County was replaced when new sheriff, Lindsay Ray, took office. Ray said that should not hinder the investigation.

About one-third of the Van Zandt County sheriff’s office has been replaced. The Texas Municipal Police Association, which represents many of the Van Zandt County sheriff’s deputies, says massive personnel swings are fairly common. Ray says the department will head in a new direction. First off, how to better serve the community and secondly, getting the overtime budget under control.

TYLER — Tyler’s first baby of the new year arrived at 12:45 Tuesday morning. Born at Mother Francis Hospital was Mikah Nelson. He tipped the scales at 6 pounds and 6 ounces. He is the son of Melva Redick of Tyler.

TYLER — One suspect is fatally shot after reportedly pointing a gun at a Tyler police officer. It happened Tuesday morning just after midnight on Queen Street. Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer, Don Martin says authorities received a call about numerous gunshots being fired in the area. Police arrived at the house where the shots were coming from and approached the back of the home. Officers say they saw men run into the house. One suspect was ordered to drop the gun but instead pointed it at officer Matt Riggle. The officer fired several shots, fatally wounding Victor Fuentes, 22, of Tyler, An autopsy has been ordered. A revolver was located on the floor next to Fuentes.

There were indications at the scene that suggest gang associations with the residence. Alcohol was present at the residence. In addition, detectives located in excess of 50 plus spent firearm cartridge rounds located at the rear of the residence. This indicates that a substantial amount of gunfire occurred prior to police arrival.

Officer Riggle was not injured. He’s been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing. The Texas Rangers are assisting Tyler police with the investigation.

TYLER — There’s a new sheriff in town. Larry Smith has officially been sworn in as Smith County Sheriff. According to KETK, in a crowded Smith County courtroom yesterday, Smith was sworn in by Smith County District Judge Jack Skeen. He replaces Sheriff J.B. Smith, who has been Smith County’s Sheriff since 1977.

TYLER — Next week, District 6 Representative Leo Berman will pass the torch to Tyler attorney Matt Schaefer. “After 14 years and 45 years in public service, including the military and city council and Texas State Guard, I’m ready to retire really…and do my own things like playing golf and traveling a lot,” Berman said.

Berman is looking and feeling pretty good these days after a battle with cancer in the midst of the election season. “Apparently stemmed from 2 years in Vietnam and slogging around the jungles in agent orange. And I came down with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,” Berman said. After 6 months of Chemo, he says the Cancer is in remission.

Berman is proud of what he’s done for East Texans. “The fact that we answered every call, every e-mail, every piece of mail that we got, everybody got a response and we were very succesful in helping people with their problems with the state,” Berman said.

Schaefer tells KETK he’s also looking forward to helping people have a voice. He already knows some of the issues he’ll tackle right out of the gate. “We have to look at what’s going on in our public schools. Everything from standardized testing, to financing to equity,” Schaefer said. Leo Berman says he has well wishes for Matt Schaefer and Schaefer has a lot of respect for his predecessor, calling Representative Berman a “tough guy.” “I’m very glad that he’s doing well. And I expect I’ll be calling him from time to time to tap into his wisdom,” Schaefer said.

LONGVIEW — Glenn Elliot, longtime Texas Ranger, and resident of Longview, died on Monday, Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt tells KETK. Elliot had worked with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and was promoted to Texas ranger in 1961. Elliot retired from the Texas Rangers several years ago, but not before leaving his mark on important cases in the East Texas area.

One of the biggest cases he worked were the KFC murders in 1983. In 2008, Elliot testified in court 25 years after the murders, saying that he saw two key pieces of evidence — a blood-stained napkin and a cash register tape box — at the KFC restaurant in Kilgore. His testimony was used to connect Darnell Hartsfield and his cousin Romeo Pinkerton to the deaths of five people.

In October of 2011, a baseball field at Longview’s Lear Park was dedicated to Elliot, in recognition of his achievements in law enforcement. Elliot was also the focus of an exhibit at the Gregg County Historical Museum in 2012, and had written two books about his career.

TROUP — No word yet on what caused an explosion that killed a Cherokee County couple. Jerry Vessels, 68 and his wife Madeleine, 66, died in the explosion that was reported around 11:30 Sunday morning. It occurred at their two story log home in the 1100 block of County Road 4706. Their bodies were sent to Tyler for autopsy.

DAINGERFIELD — A Daingerfield doctor has had his license revoked by the Texas State Medical Board. The action was taken against Dr. Roderick Lee Mitchell for failure to meet the standard of care and not maintaining adequate medical records. The Longview News Journal reports the state board released the information on Monday. Officials said the board entered a final order regarding Dr. Mitchell on November 30.

GILMER — Firefighters from three Upshur County fire departments battled a house fire southeast of Gilmer on Sunday evening. According to the Longview News-Journal, a spokesman for the Gilmer Fire Department said the mobile home, located on Flamingo Road, was fully engulfed when they arrived. No one was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police search for the suspects responsible for numerous reports of vandalism. Early this morning, calls came into the Longview Police Department about vandalism in the area of Columbia and Princeton Streets. According to witnesses, at least 20 vehicles in the area were vandalized overnight. Police tell KETK, the vandals egged some vehicles and wrote on the them with a type of paint.

Authorities are advising people to park their cars in driveways or garages, and to notify police if they notice any suspicious activity. Police also want to remind citizens it is illegal to park a car on a city street overnight between the hours of sundown and sunup. If you have any information about this or any other crime call 903-237-1199 or call CrimeStoppers.

TYLER — Two men have been arrested after breaking into a Tyler business to find a place to sleep. Tyler police were notified just before midnight Saturday that two persons had broken into the Edwards Jones office at 101 East Erwin. The men had broken the front door and were found inside the building, one sleeping on the floor and the other in a chair. The two were charged with public intoxication and criminal trespassing.

TYLER — Today is a tax deadline for Smith County residents. If you’re planning on claiming your property tax on your 2012 federal income taxes, The property tax bill must be paid in full by Monday. The tax office accepts cash, check, money order or credit card, debit card and electronic check payment.

This is the first time the tax office is offering free payment by electronic check. You can go to http://www.smith-county.com to access your taxes on the Smith County web site.

Property tax bills are due upon receipt. The deadline for payment is January 31. Starting February 1st, penalties are added to your tax statement. On February 1st, 2% per month is added to your tax bill until it reaches 15% in June. In July, penalties continue to escalate in 1% increments with an additional 15% collection fee.

LONGVIEW — Longview Transit, in partnership with R&K Distributors – Your Local Budweiser Distributor, is preparing to provide a “Safe-Ride-Home” on New Year’s Eve. For the fifth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within Longview city limits on New Year’s Eve between 8:00pm and 3:00am. Rides can be scheduled by calling Longview Transit at 903-753-2287 ext.10.

Transportation service will be available to or from any Longview destination. The service is offered to the general public, including individuals that have had a couple drinks or those that simply do not want to drive that evening. Longview Transit encourages riders to schedule trips in advance if possible.

According to Longview Transit General Manager Scott Lewis, “Longview Transit has been providing Safe-Ride-Home transportation on New Year’s Eve for several years now, and it continues to be a great service for the community. Thanks to the community sponsorship, we are able to provide a free alternative to getting behind the wheel.” The Safe-Ride-Home initiative is made possible by the financial contribution of R&K Distributors.

TROUP — Two persons have been killed in a Troup house fire. They are identified as Jerry Vessels, 68 and his wife Madeleine, 66. Their home, which was a total loss, is located in the 1100 block of County Road 4706. Investigators say an explosion caused the fire that killed the couple. Some of the debris was scattered up to 100 feet from the house. A state fire marshal will help determine of the cause of the explosion.

LONGVIEW – A Tyler man is being held in the Gregg County Jail on robbery and drug charges. Arrested Friday by Longview police was Charles William Sadler, 27. He is wanted for two armed robbery charges and in Kilgore where he is charged with possession of marijuana. His bonds total over $150,000.

TYLER — A Tyler woman has been charged with aggravated robbery. She is accused of robbing a person at America’s Best Value Inn, 2828 WNW Loop 323 around 9:15 Friday night. The victim described the suspect as a white female, who was later identified as Jessica Ann Walker, 25. Officers started searching for the suspect, locating her on the southwest corner of the complex. After a brief foot chase, she was taken into custody. On her, officers found a 25 caliber pistol and an undetermined amount of cash. She was booked into the Smith County Jail.

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is warning citizens to be wary of email scams. One such scam that was seen Friday involves an email sent to citizens purportedly from Fed Ex. When citizens open the email, they’re told a courier tried to deliver a package to them but was unsuccessful. This email contains a link for the citizen to click on for further information. It is believed the link may contain a virus or some other type of malware. Longview police warn citizens to never click on an unsolicited email or link they are not familiar with. If you have clicked on an unfamiliar or unsolicited link from an email, Longview Police advise having your computer scanned for viruses.

GREGG COUNTY — One person has been killed in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate Highway 20 in Gregg County. Around 9:30 Friday morning, dispatchers were alerted to a wreck at mile marker 591 near Farm Road 2087. When troopers arrived, they found a truck that had run off the road and hit a tree. The driver of the pickup, Justin Schattel, 25, was pronounced dead. His hometown is unknown at this time. Authorities believe the crash was caused by Schattel driving at an unsafe speed.

GILMER — Two of the three suspects accused of killing a Longview man in early December appeared before an Upshur County judge Friday morning. Sarah Haslam, 20, and Daniel Jones, 19, are charged with killing Ronnie Joe Gammage, 27, of Longview, (pictured) who disappeared on December 4. KETK reports the two suspects appeared before Judge Lauren Parish in the 115th District Court. The third alleged murderer, Andrew Conrad Norwine, 21, will be transferred to Upshur County in about 10 days.

A missing person report was filed on December 8, the same day Gammage’s truck was found in a Waffle House parking lot with slashed tires. After the pickup was found, Longview police released surveillance video of a group of people trying to cash a check from Gammage’s account. Tips from the public helped identify two of the people in the car as Haslam and Jones. On Wednesday, December 19, Jones and Haslam led authorities to Gammage’s body in Upshur County.

The Longview News-Journal reports Norwine, a U.S. Army private assigned to Fort Polk in Leesville, La., signed a waiver of extradition from the Vernon Parish Jail on Thursday allowing his transfer to Gilmer. Norwine’s bond was set at $1 million on a capital murder charge. Haslam and Jones were each held on $1.3 million bond. They are charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. Haslam and Jones were transferred from the Gregg County Jail to the Upshur County Jail Thursday.

According to probable cause affidavits for the arrest of Haslam and Jones, Gammage, who was mentally disabled, was lured by the trio into a vehicle Dec. 5 and driven to a construction site in Gregg County, where he was beaten. After the attack, Gammage was loaded into a vehicle and driven to rural Upshur County where he was killed and his body burned, according to police records. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

TYLER — Local grocery stores began stocking their shelves with beer and wine Friday. Brookshire’s, FRESH by Brookshire’s, and Super 1 Foods stores in Tyler have received permit approval from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to begin selling beer and wine for off-site consumption. Brookshire’s Grocery Company began selling the products Friday afternoon. Tylerites passed Proposition 2, the legal sale of beer or wine for off premise consumption only, in the November 6 General Elections.

Brookshire’s Spokeswoman Ellen Reynolds tells KETK a variety of beer and wine products will be available in each store where alcohol sales are now allowed. What they choose will be based on the store’s size, along with other factors. The FRESH by Brookshire’s store on Old Jacksonville Highway will offer an expanded variety including craft beers and a larger selection of wines at varying prices.

LONGVIEW — A January 3 hearing has been scheduled for Leigh Ann Snyder, the Longview police officer fired one year after suffering an injury while on the job. KETK reports that the word comes from the city of Longview’s grievance committee. Snyder is appealing her termination. The city fired Snyder after she didn’t return to duty one year after her patrol car was hit by a suspected drunk driver. Snyder says she was not provided the benefits she needed from the city.

TYLER — Tyler police are looking for the two men who robbed the Family Dollar store at 1403 East Gentry Parkway. It happened around 8:45 last night. Employees say two men entered the store. One stood at the door as a look-out as the other approached the counter and produced a silver handgun, demanding money. They fled with a yet to be determined amount of cash.

Both suspects are described as black males in their late teens or early 20’s, 5’08” to 5’10” with medium builds. One was wearing a black hoodie and blue bandanna, the other was wearing a brown hoodie.

PENNINGTON — Officials have confirmed a second tornado touched down in Houston County on Christmas Day. According to KETK, the first twister landed near the the town of Pennington just before 9:30 that morning. The tornado traveled along Highway 287, downing numerous trees and damaged or destroyed several buildings. It was classified as an EF-3. The second twister occurred almost directly after it in the same area about ten minutes later. The EF-0 only made it about a third of a mile before it dissipated, according to the National Weather Service. The EF-3 was 300 yards wide and reached a 150 MPH wind speed. The EF-0 was 30 yards wide and reached a 75 MPH wind speed. No deaths were reported.

LONGVIEW — Firefighters battled a blaze at a Longview apartment Wednesday night. According to KETK, emergency crews were dispatched to the Towne Oaks Apartments shortly after 9:15pm. When crews arrived, they were able to extinguish the flames before the fire could spread to other apartments, but not until about $7,000 in damage was done. Two people were home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured. They will not be displaced. Fire officials say the residence’s smoke detectors were working when the blaze occurred. A cause has not yet been released.

KILGORE — Kilgore detectives are looking for a man and woman who allegedly stole money from coin operated machines at a local business. KETK reports that on December 14, shortly after 4:15pm, the duo arrived at Gregg Laundry in a white Ford 4-door car. Surveillance video shows the woman entering the laundromat first, looking at the machines and going back to the car. The man then goes into the store, breaks the machine, and takes the money.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the two people. If you have any information on one or both of these thieves, you’re asked to contact Detective Kay Lynn Newbill at (903) 983-1559 ext. 233; call Gregg County CrimeStoppers at (903) 236-STOP; or text your anonymous tip to 847411+KILGORE+your tip.

HARRISON COUNTY — A four-wheeler accident led to the death of a child in Harrison County According to KETK, at 10:45 Christmas Eve night, emergency crews were dispatched to the 4300 block of Cooks Road on reports of an ATV accident on private property. When medical officials arrived, they found a four-seat ATV and two injured people. The first victim was currently being treated and a second, an unnamed 12-year-old boy, appeared to have been thrown from the four-wheeler and killed, according to Marshall EMS. The other victim, whose age has not been released, was taken to Marshall Good Shepherd Hospital for treatment. Statements from witnesses are being gathered and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the wreck.

LONGVIEW — Longview police and Upshur County officials are closing the case on the kidnapping and murder of 27-year-old Ronnie Gammage (pictured) of Longview. According to KETK, 21-year-old Andrew Conrad Norwine plans to waive extradition from Louisiana, where he was arrested early Christmas morning. Upshur County DA Billy Byrd says that means Norwine could be back in Texas in the next few weeks. 20-year-old Sarah Haslam and 19-year-old Daniel Jones, both from Longview, are in the Gregg County Jail. The Longview News-Journal reports the three are charged in connection with an unusually violent crime — luring the mentally disabled victim into the woods, beating him, slitting his throat and setting his body on fire. Gammage’s body was found in Upshur County.

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff-elect Larry Smith will be sworn in New Year’s Day, along with other newly elected officials. Thursday, Smith released a rundown of plans for his first term. “Since the primary election,” says Smith, “I have developed a plan to reorganize the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to improve service, streamline operations, cross-train officers, put more deputies on patrol, and increase departmental efficiency and morale. Implementation of this comprehensive plan will begin on January 1 and will not call for an increase in manpower or budget.”

For starters, Smith says, “The new organizational chart will allow forty patrol deputies to be assigned to the patrol division, along with eight sergeants, a K-9 unit, and a lieutenant. With the implementation of a 12-hour patrol shift, we will have twelve units on the streets of Smith County on each shift. This is three times the number that are often currently on the streets during a shift.”

Smith also says, “We will decrease the command staff by one Lieutenant and increase the Sergeant level positions in order to have more support and supervision in the field in order to best utilize the work force for improved service.” He adds, “We will begin the implementation of a Patrol/Investigator position to better pursue criminal investigations of Class A through Class C misdemeanors.”

Communication with the public is another area of focus. According to Smith, “Two positions (one from the jail and one from operations) will be converted into a professional Public Information Officer.” Other changes include institution of a civil division for process serving; saving fuel costs and patrol time; consolidation of duties; “improved hiring, training, and promotion procedures; a new position for an internal affairs investigator; reorganized co-chief deputy responsibilities; employee support through a chaplain program to be led by Dr. David O. Dykes of Green Acres Baptist Church; and “ongoing pursuit of continuous improvement.”

CORSICANA — A Henderson County man has been killed in an accident at the Corsicana landfill. Dead at the scene Wednesday afternoon was Kenneth Eugene Wheeler of Malakoff. He was an employee for Clean Sweep Trash Service in Malakoff. Workers had already unloaded the garbage truck and were putting it back down when, for some unknown reason, Wheeler reached back into the truck. Assistant Police Chief Ronny McGaha told the Corsicana Daily Sun Wheeler was caught on the clamshell mechanism on the trash truck and not the compactor.