Man Sentenced for Acquiring Semen from Illegally Imported Deer

TYLER — A 55-year-old Braidwood, Illinois geneticist has been sentenced for acquiring semen from illegally imported deer in East Texas. Dr. Raymond Favero pleaded guilty on July 11 to the felony offense of acquiring wildlife in interstate commerce in violation of state law and federal laws. He was sentenced yesterday to three years probation by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Favero was also fined $6,000.00 and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $24,000.00 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.

According to information presented in court, on February 1, 2007, Favero acquired approximately 184 straws of whitetail deer semen valued at approximately $92,000.00, which he drew from a buck which he knew had been transported illegally from an out-of-state source. Then again, on January 28, 2008, Favero acquired another 110 straws of whitetail deer semen valued at approximately $55,000.00 which he drew from another buck which he knew had been transported illegally from an out of state source. Favero knew that Texas law prohibits any importation of live whitetail deer or live mule deer due to the threat of diseases transmittable by deer such as Chronic Wasting Disease and bovine tuberculosis. Favero earned a P.H.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992.

Tyler Earns Sea of Goodwill Award

TYLER – The City of Tyler has been recognized by Homeward Deployed, an organization supporting the successful transition of men and women from our armed services into civilian life, with their Sea of Goodwill Award. Presented annually, the Sea of Goodwill Award is given to a community that best demonstrates superior support in linking public, private, and governmental support for our Veterans and their families. Homeward Deployed formally presented the Sea of Goodwill Award to the community at a ceremony at the Tyler Rose Garden yesterday morning.

In recognizing Tyler, Homeward Deployed specifically cited the Mayor’s Veterans Roundtable. Established in May 2011, this initiative exists to further develop and implement a Community Blueprint for supporting and enhancing veterans services with a focus on employment, education, housing, medical care and mental health. “Since the creation of the Veterans Roundtable, tremendous progress has been made toward enhancing the relationship between Veterans, their families and the Tyler community,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “The members of the Roundtable have worked tirelessly to ensure Tyler’s Veterans have the resources they need available to them.”

“It says a lot about our community that we are working to ensure that those who have served have what they need,” said Roundtable Co-Chair, Veteran and Councilmember Ralph Caraway. “What better way is there to thank those who have done so much for us?”

Smith County is home to nearly 18,000 Veterans as well as a Super Armory and the Texas Veterans Home that opened in November 2011. The economic impact of Veterans to the Smith County economy is estimated to be $60.8 million annually. “The Roundtable has increased community awareness of Veteran’s needs,” added Bass. “It is truly promoting the City of Tyler as a place that really cares about our Veterans.”

“Veterans have service and sacrifice for others in their DNA and the Veterans and Community Roundtable gives them the opportunity to continue to serve in making things better, not only for our Veterans and their families, but for the entire community,” said Major General John T. Furlow, U.S. Army retired. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org for much more on this story.

Upshur County Officials Investigate Dog Carcasses

GILMER — Upshur County officials are investigating after carcasses of three dogs were found under a bridge east of Gilmer. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The discovery occurred Monday under the Cypress Creek Bridge at Farm Road 726 and State Highway 154, Upshur County Sheriff’s Capt. Gary Roberts said Tuesday. One of the dogs was found in a black garbage bag, one in a feed sack and the other was lying out in the open, Roberts said. The three dogs, which are believed to be mixed breeds, were severely decomposed, he said. Roberts said investigators could not tell whether the dogs had been shot, or died of natural causes and were left under the bridge to decompose.

Two Displaced Following Apparent Space Heater Fire

TYLER — A northeast Tyler home is considered to be a total loss following a fire. . Emergency crews were called to 2118 Lyndon Avenue just before 10:30 yesterday morning. KETK reports firefighters were able to quickly put out the blaze, but fire officials say there was heavy fire and smoke damage throughout the house. Authorities believe the fire was sparked by a space heater placed too close to curtains in the living room. No injuries were reported in the incident, but two people are now without a home. Red Cross was notified to assist the occupants, who were at home at the time of the fire, but were not injured.

Do you have any plans to boost your AM station’s signal strength?

Yours is a question we get nearly every fall. If it were up to us, we’d be on the air at 100 kilowatts. The equipment to broadcast at a higher power output is relatively cheap and, despite the high energy costs that so dominate the headlines as I write this, so is the electricity. If we could, we’d go buy a gangbusters transmitter and crank it all the way up. And so would every other broadcaster. Therein lies the problem.

If every broadcaster simply put as much signal in the air as he or she had the checkbook to buy, the spectrum would be a chaotic jumble of useless noise.

Which is what was rapidly becoming the case in the late 1920s and early 1930s as the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) was formed and that agency began allocating frequencies, power and directionality.

When the sun sets, KTBB, like most AM radio stations, changes its power and the directions in which it most strongly radiates its signal.

Radio Frequency energy (RF) in what is commonly called the AM band (535 kHz to 1700 kHz) has a characteristic called the skywave. During the day, ionization of the atmosphere by the sun suppresses the skywave and your receiver detects only the groundwave. But at night, when solar energy is gone, the skywave is “free” to travel great distances. As a result, the skywave of a station in Tyler, Texas can cause severe interference for a station in a state as far away as either coast. The skywave effect diminishes with an increase in frequency (dial position). Therefore, a station that is low on the dial like KTBB at 600 kHz will have a very significant skywave component.

To deal with this physical property of AM radio, the FCC allocated radio stations in the U.S. in such a way that some stations are fully powered both day and night, a great many stations are only on the air in the daytime and the rest operate at a higher power by day and a lower power by night.

KTBB is in the last group of stations. Our daytime power is 5,000 watts. Our nighttime power is 2,500 watts. We change power at local sunrise and local sunset. As you know, that time changes with the changing of the seasons. As I write this, our power-up time on KTBB is 7:30 a.m. CDT and our power-down time is 6:45 p.m. CDT As I mentioned, those times change as the seasons change.

As if that weren’t enough, KTBB, like most AM stations, uses a directional antenna system. Simply put, we radiate our signal more strongly in some directions than in others. This, too, is to provide protection from interference to stations in other communities that also operate on our frequency (600 kHz) as well as to stations in other communities that operate on frequencies adjacent to ours (580 kHz, 590 kHz, 610 kHz, and 620 kHz). Our directional pattern changes for daytime and nighttime operation at the same times that our power changes. Our pattern is such that we do not radiate as strongly to the east toward Longview at night as we do in the daytime. Also, we protect KLBJ(AM) in Austin. They are at 590 on the dial, the first adjacent channel to us at 600 kHz. Thus, we “pull in our horns” to the south as the sun sets.

The question that always follows is, “Well, can’t you do something to raise your power.” And the answer that must follow is, “No, we can’t.” The AM Table of Allotments for the United States is a giant jigsaw puzzle. What we do will affect our neighboring AM stations, which will affect their neighbors and so on. So what we have is for all intents and purposes fixed. I hope this answers your question.

You can view a table listing of the AVERAGE HOURS OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET by clicking on this link: Sun Hours

Many of our listeners that are affected by our power and pattern changes are making use of our web streaming service. If you live in the Tyler-Longview metropolitan survey area as defined by ARBITRON, the radio ratings company, you can subscribe to our streaming service for only $0.99 and you can listen on any computer you own.

The eligible counties of residence are Smith, Gregg & Cherokee.

Click here: Stream Terms for complete information.

I appreciate your interest and I hope I have answered your question.
Paul L. Gleiser
President

Man Accused of Jumping on School Bus to Flee

PALESTINE (AP) – Police credit several adults with stopping a fleeing suspect from driving away in an East Texas school bus. Palestine police on Tuesday arrested Cedric Brenard Lewis. About a dozen students were on the stopped bus, which was picking up more youngsters. Nobody was hurt. Lewis was being held Wednesday on charges of aggravated kidnapping, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, public intoxication, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. Anderson County Jail records didn’t list an attorney for Lewis. Bond wasn’t immediately set. Lewis allegedly caused a disturbance at some apartments and was being escorted out by a maintenance worker when he jumped into the bus driver’s empty seat. Sgt. James Muniz says the driver, who’d been assisting a student, helped the maintenance worker and an off-duty corrections worker subdue Lewis.

Tyler Couple Killed by Carbon Monoxide

TYLER — Tyler Police say a man and a woman have been found dead inside a house at 1200 North Albertson Avenue. They are identified as Cynthia Pettigrew, 50 and Johnathan Lydia, whose 49th birthday would have been Tuesday. Police believe carbon monoxide poisoning from an electric generator operating indoors in the deaths of the couple, whose bodies were found in their home.

A Tyler police statement says police were called to the couple’s home about 3 p.m. Tuesday after a family member found their bodies. Police found the gasoline-powered generator had been operating inside the home. Sgt. Paul Robeson says an autopsy has been ordered.

The couple were found by family members who went to check on them, since they had not been heard from in a couple of days.

Teen Shot Burglarizing Apartment

LONGVIEW — Longview police say it appears a teen shot to death was killed while trying to burglarize an apartment. Noah Wood, 17, was found dead Monday night. He was in an apartment at the Town East Apartments on Eastman Road. His body has been sent to Tyler for autopsy.

Investigators say Wood had entered the apartment an assaulted the residents. He was then shot by one of the residents with a rifle. A news release from the Longview Police Department said detectives have determined that aggravated robbery was the motive in the case. Police arrested a second suspect in connection with this case. Information will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for further review. The shooting remains under investigation.

Tyler Man Sentenced in Fatal Wreck

TYLER — A Tyler man has received two 10 year prison sentences in connection with a fatal accident in December of last year. Jared Tyrell Stinecipher, 26, pleaded guilty in October to criminally negligent homicide and causing an accident involving serious bodily injury or death. Killed in the accident was Arthur Dewayne Murphy, 50. Stinecipher fled the scene, touching off a manhunt.

In 7th District Court yesterday, Judge Kerry Russell sentenced Stinecipher to two 10 year sentences, which will be served concurrently. Stinecipher is the son Lt. Mark Stinecipher with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. He was the one who called authorities when his injured son showed up at his home following the accident.

Group Appealing Keystone Pipeline Ruling

BEAUMONT (AP/STAFF) — A group of Southeast Texas property owners are appealing a ruling to the Texas Supreme Court a ruling allowing condemnation of private land for a planned Canada-to-Gulf Coast oil pipeline.

A Jefferson County court-at-law judge ruled in October that Keystone pipeline developer TransCanada can take land by eminent domain from property owners in the coastal Southeast Texas county.

Attorneys for the property owners contend that the trial judge misapplied state law granting eminent-domain powers to common carriers and developers of crude-oil pipelines. They contend TransCanada would have exclusive use to the pipeline and that it would carry oil from tar sands, which requires processing to liquefy it and is, therefore, not crude.

TransCanada wants a federal permit to ship oil by pipeline from western Canada’s tar-sand fields to Jefferson County. The proposed route would take the pipeline through eastern Smith County.

Video Shows Suspects Using Missing Man’s Checkbook

LONGVIEW — Authorities have released surveillance video of a group of people trying to cash a check belonging to a missing Longview man. The video, from December 4, shows four people in a car attempting to cash a check under Ronnie Joe Gammage’s account about 20 minutes after he had been there. He had been reported missing that same day.

Gammage is described as 6’ 8” tall, weighing 265 pounds, and usually dressed in western attire. Officials say he suffers from a mental disability which can impair his ability to make sound judgments. Gammage’s truck was found abandoned with slashed tires in the parking lot of a Waffle House at 318 East Loop 281 in Longview. His vehicle is a tan Chevrolet pickup truck. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ronnie Gammage is asked to contact Detective David Cheatham at 903-237-1147.

Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Arson/Solicitation of Murder for Hire

TYLER – A 43-year-old Tyler methadone clinic owner has pleaded guilty to attempting to burn down a building occupied by a competing clinic and then plotting to murder his co-conspirator after it became apparent that his co-conspirator might testify against him. Edward Jacobs pleaded guilty Tuesday in Tyler federal court to the felony offenses of attempted arson and solicitation of murder for hire. Jacobs admitted that on March 19, 2012, he gave Daniel Kubisty approximately $3,000 to burn down a building at 3322 E. Fifth Street in Tyler that was at the time being used by the “Add-Life Recovery Center” methadone clinic.

Jacobs and Kubisty both were indicted on June 6 and charged in a superseding indictment with attempted arson and conspiracy to commit arson. The indictment alleged that Jacobs and Kubisty conspired to burn down the building in order to gain a competitive advantage for the Methadone Clinic of East Texas, which also had an office in Tyler. On March 19, Kubisty was arrested in Tyler by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and was found to have a gasoline can, with a wick saturated in gasoline protruding from its neck, in the back of Kubisty’s pickup.

Jacobs also admitted that on June 1, he arranged a meeting with a man he believed he could hire to murder Kubisty in order to prevent Kubisty from testifying against Jacobs in a federal arson case. What Jacobs didn’t know was that the “hit-man” he was dealing with was cooperating with the ATF. During the meeting Jacobs offered to pay the cooperating witness $12,000.00 for Kubisty’s murder. ATF was monitoring the meeting and arrested Jacobs at the scene. The June 6 indictment also charged Jacobs with witness tampering, murder for hire, solicitation of murder for hire, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Jacobs had been in jail awaiting trial since that time.

Jacobs is facing from five to twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the attempted arson and up to twenty years in prison and a $125,000 fine for solicitation of murder for hire. Kubisty’s case is still pending trial.

Authorities: Wanted Felon Captured after Chase

CANTON — Authorities in Van Zandt County say they’ve captured a wanted felon after a vehicle and foot chase. Monday afternoon around 2:00, investigators with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office assisted Prec.# 1 Constable Mickey Henson along with the Grand Saline Police Department in executing a felony warrant at a location on County Road 1313.

Upon arrival at the location, authorities saw two people inside a truck. The occupants spotted authorities and quickly fled, eventually abandoning the truck with both doors open and still running. Authorities say it was confirmed the vehicle was stolen out of Dallas. Authorities were advised that the wanted person, Jimmy Don Thompson, had recently made threats to kill law enforcement to keep from going back to prison and was considered armed and dangerous.

Officials say they eventually found Thompson and made the capture by luring him toward a family member’s vehicle. According to officials, as Thompson approached the vehicle, units rushed out of it; authorities say Thompson was tasered and then placed into custody. Thompson was booked into the Van Zandt County jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle pending arraignment. He will be facing evading arrest charges at a later date. The other suspect is still at large but has been identified, and felony warrants will be issued for that person’s arrest.

Student Caught with Gun at Longview Elementary School

LONGVIEW — Longview officials are investigating why an elementary student was caught with a gun on school grounds Tuesday. The student was found with the handgun showing it to a friend at the South Ward Elementary School, according to the Longview Police Department. KETK reports that school officials were first alerted to the gun on campus when friends of the child told a teacher. The gun was confiscated and police were called. The school, located on the 1000 block of South Mobberly Avenue, was never placed on lockdown as it was already dismissing students at the time. Authorities have not yet revealed the age of the student. Longview PD and Longview ISD are both investigating.

Over 100 Dogs Seized by SPCA near Athens; Seven Dead

ATHENS — Seven dogs have been found dead and another 106 allegedly cruelly treated dogs were seized by the SPCA near Athens. KETK reports that Monday at 9:00 a.m., authorities found 83 dogs and 22 puppies at a suspected Henderson County puppy mill, located at 2353 Rose Pointe. According to the SPCA, the animals were cruelly confined, not receiving sufficient care, and were forced to live in their own filth inside a feces-filled, urine-soaked home on the property. Most of the dogs were allegedly suffering from eye discharge, flea infestation, long nails, severely matted fur, and skin conditions. About 60 of the dogs were confined to crates, and some crates included up to seven dogs.

Sheriff’s officials began investigating the house back in October of 2011. Once law enforcement discovered the conditions of the animals, they contacted the SPCA for support. The SPCA says the stench of ammonia was so intense that detectives wore personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatuses, while inside the home. The SPCA of Texas measured the ammonia level in the residence to be 67 parts per million (ppm). As a point of reference, short term exposure to any ammonia level over 20 ppm or long term exposure to any level over 12 ppm can cause health problems in humans.

The dogs have been taken to the SPCA of Texas’ Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney, where they will be cared for until a custody hearing on Friday, December 21, at 10:30 a.m in Poynor. Deborah Eckeberger, 59, has been arrested for alleged cruelty to animals. She has been released on $15,000 bond.

The SPCA says that puppy mill owners breed dogs for the purpose of selling the puppies for a profit, and that the living conditions of the dogs come a distant second. If you suspect you’ve found a puppy mill, the SPCA of Texas encourages you to report inhumane conditions and animal neglect to your local law enforcement agency and to the SPCA of Texas. You can go to http://www.spca.org/knowpuppymills to do that.

Le Bistro Opens at Airport

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport announces that a new food concession, Le Bistro, opened Tuesday in the airport terminal. Gabriel Nguessan, owner of Le Bistro, was approved to begin operation in the commercial terminal at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in September. Since then, Nguessan has worked to prepare for the big opening. Le Bistro will offer gourmet foods and desserts including a number of appetizers, sandwiches, breakfast items, pies and cakes. Le Bistro will also have daily breakfast and lunch specials along with plans to launch a catering menu within the next few weeks.

“We are very pleased to have Le Bistro in the passenger terminal building. It is important to our customers to have fresh coffee in the morning, and having gourmet coffees is a real plus,” said Airport Manager Davis Dickson. “We urge everyone to come out. The airport is even offering 90 minutes of free parking for restaurant customers.” Le Bistro will open each morning at 5:00am for breakfast and remain open until 2:00pm for lunch menu items. Go to http://www.tylerairport.com to view the menu.

Harden the Target against Mail Theft

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has received a number of cases in which citizens have reported their mail stolen from their mailboxes to gain access to their personal items of value. Police ask that you take your bill payments or any item of value to a secure mailbox or post office, or place them in the postman’s hands. You may also pay your bill online using a secure online account with your provider. As a reminder, police ask that you review your bank statements to audit your account and report any fraud that may have occurred.

Injured Officer Appealed Termination

LONGVIEW — Former Longview police officer, Leigh Ann Snyder filed a request late Monday asking for a hearing before the City of Longview’s appeals committee seeking to reverse the decision to terminate her employment. According to KETK, Snyder was dismissed Dec. 11 after she failed to return to work full time within one year of suffering an on-the-job injury. Snyder was injured December 11, 2011 when her squad car was hit by an intoxicated driver. She returned to light duty, but had to undergo a subsequent surgery in November that kept her from being able to return to full-time duty.

Auto Burglary Suspects Arrested

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to reports of suspicious activity and arrested two men for auto burglary. It happened around 3:30 yesterday morning in the 3300 block of Omega. Officers said a vehicle was reportedly driving through the neighborhood with no headlights. Authorities stopped the vehicle and found items reported stolen from several vehicles in the area. Jonathan Meza, 19, and Austin Taylor, 21,(pictured) both from Tyler, were arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on three counts of burglary of a vehicle. Additional property was also recovered during the investigation.

Some East Texas School Districts Without Safety Plan

AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) — Nearly 80 Texas school districts either have failed to submit required safety audits or don’t meet full compliance. That’s according to the Texas School Safety Center, which was formed after the Columbine shootings in 1999. The attorney general’s office says districts “can’t let another second tick” without having a safety plan in place. School district on the list include:
Frankston ISD
Gary ISD
Hooks ISD
Laneville ISD
LaPoynor ISD
Leverett’s Chapel ISD
Martinsville ISD
Pewitt CISD
Timpson ISD
Union Hill ISD
Woden ISD

Ex-Pilgrim’s Pride Employee Charged with Theft

MOUNT PLEASANT — A former employee of Pilgrim’s Pride in Mount Pleasant is being charged with stealing mechanical and electronic equipment valued at $200,000 from the company. Arrested is Rickey Alton Wright.

The Longview News Journal reports over $225,000 worth of stolen property has been linked directly to Wright. Around $40,000 worth of property that may have been sold by the suspect has been recovered.

Wright is charged with theft of property valued between $100,000 and $200,000, a second-degree felony. His bond has been setg at $500.000.

East Texans Weigh In on School Shooting

EAST TEXAS — East Texans vary in their opinions about what causes such tragedies as the mass shooting in Connecticut. Among the responses gathered by KETK: “I think people have lost their way with the Lord.” One interviewee blamed TV and radio; another thinks “the issue is trying to limit gun control.” One online commenter joined the many who say teachers should be allowed to carry guns in school; another blamed A.D.D. drugs such as Adderall.

Abbott Warns East Texans to Avoid Alleged Tax Refund Scam

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott Monday revealed that the state is investigating an alleged fraudulent tax return scheme and warned East Texas residents to avoid recruiters from Syam Tax Services LLC. According to a news release, the Texas Attorney General’s Office does not typically acknowledge investigations but disclosed the investigation into Syam Tax Services in order to help prevent additional victims from being harmed by the tax fraud scheme.

Although the State’s investigation is still ongoing, Abbott says the preliminary results show that Syam Tax Services enlisted recruiters to canvass small East Texas churches and senior residences for elderly victims who receive Social Security or disability benefits. Officials say prospective victims are told that low-income Social Security recipients are eligible for a cash benefit under a federal stimulus funds program. Next, officials say, victims are told to complete a form – which includes providing their driver’s license, Social Security, and bank account numbers to Syam’s recruiters in order to receive their federal stimulus benefits. Without the victim’s knowledge, according to Abbott, Syam subsequently prepares and files a fraudulent tax return in the victim’s name.

In reality, says Abbott, there is not a federal stimulus benefit payment for low-income Social Security recipients. But the tax return prepared by Syam and submitted to the IRS not only requests the payment, but also directs the IRS to deposit more than half of the resulting tax refund into Syam’s own bank account, according to the news release.

When the IRS realizes that the tax return is fraudulent, the agency contacts the victim and demands that the taxpayer repay the entire tax refund, plus penalties and interest. According to Abbott, since Syam never informed victims that it would file a tax return or retain a portion of the refund, victims first learn they are liable for the full amount of the fraudulent tax refund when they receive the letter from the IRS. You can go to https://www.oag.state.tx.us/ to read more about this topic.

Longview Banks Post Second Year of Double-Digit Growth

LONGVIEW — If bank deposit figures serve as an economic indicator, then Longview and East Texas are faring well. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Longview banks completed their second consecutive year of double-digit deposit growth as of June 30, according to figures provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Between June 30, 2011, and June of this year, deposits in Longview banks grew by nearly $250,000, posting a 12%. That increase comes on the heels of a 13% increase in deposits the year before.

East Texas Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

AUSTIN — An East Texas soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Nelson D. Trent, a Round Rock resident, was killed Thursday in Afghanistan. A native of Whitehouse, Trent, 37, died in Kandahar after an improvised explosive device ignited, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Defense. The release said Trent was assigned to the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division out of Fort Worth. Trent had been affiliated with the Texas Army National Guard, as the communications officer in charge for Joint Task Force 71, an emergency response unit made up of several guard units.

Trent graduated from Whitehouse High School in 1993. He was married with two children.

Tyler Congressman Debates Gun Control

EAST TEXAS — Schools in Texas and across the country are examining safety measures and trying to cope with last week’s tragedy in Connecticut. East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert, Tyler, on Fox News Sunday, says mass shootings seem to occur most often in places where guns aren’t allowed. Congress is expected to have a heated debate on how such mass shootings can be prevented.

The gun control debate has been renewed since 20 students and six adults were killed Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Many lawmakers and politicians have called for the renewal of the federal assault weapons ban, a piece of legislation that expired in 2004 at the end of its 10-year term but has yet to be renewed.

Gohmert argued that as the country takes on a conversation about gun rights, people must be “open-minded.” He said emotional reactions will naturally lead to a desire to “get rid of all guns,” but he said that “you (should) use your head and look at the facts.”

Longview Drug Arrest

LONGVIEW — A Harrison County man has been charged with drug violations following his arrest. Samuel Clay Gideon, 34, of Harleton, was arrested around 9:30 Friday night in the 100 block of South Access Road. He has been charged with manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $56,500.

Smith County Motorcycle Wreck Injures One

TYLER — One person is injured in a motorcycle accident east of Tyler. Listed in critical condition at East Texas Medical Center is John Bayless. The accident happened around 3:00 Sunday afternoon on Farm Road 850. The Department of Public Safety reports Bayless was westbound at a high speed when his motorcycle left the road and went into a ditch. The motorcycle then hit a driveway culvert and flipped. Bayless was not wearing a helmet.