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ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated after rolling over his vehicle early Saturday morning. According to a Lufkin Police report, Gary Guerrero, 19, was traveling on Feagin Drive when his car ran off the road, resulting in a rollover accident. Responding officers found Guerrero to be intoxicated and arrested him, according to the report. The officers booked Guerrero into the Angelina County Jail.

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville police arrested a local man involved in a string of gas station robberies Friday. Ray Hawkins Jr., 27, of Jacksonville, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Oct. 18 robbery of J-N-J’s Food Mart on Jackson Street. Hawkins provided the revolver used in the robbery as well as the get-away car. He faces two counts of aggravated robbery, a first degree felony. Hawkins will not be charged as an accomplice, but for the actual offense. Each count carries a possible sentence of between five to 99 years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine.

Police officials said Rodrick Johnson, 20, of Jacksonville executed the robbery of the store and robbed a customer at gunpoint for his wallet. Officials said this counts as two robberies. JPD arrested Johnson on Oct. 28 for warrants on two gas station robberies in Freestone County. Officials also said he was also involved in the robbery of The Corner Store, on F.M. 747, on Oct. 9.

Police arrested Aaron Hale, 19, of Jacksonville and his wife, Briana Hale, 17, of Jacksonville, Cody Kirby, 22, of Jacksonville and Wayne Frangiosa, 21, of Jacksonville. Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department Aaron Hale was the possible driver in the Fastrac robbery and information gained from that arrest gave led to other robberies. Officials said a gun found in the car matched one involved in the robbery of the Nu Time Truck stop on Oct. 18. Officials said store videos show Kirby using the rifle. Frangiosa has also been linked to the robberies of the Corner Store and Nu Time.

KILGORE — Three people were transported to an area hospital Saturday afternoon after the driver of a sport utility vehicle ran through a Kilgore auto parts store. Kilgore police Sgt. Johnathan Gage said the wreck happened about 2:20 p.m. at ABC Auto Parts in the 1400 block of U.S. 259 North. Gage said the driver was traveling west on Stone Road when he lost control of his Chevy Tahoe, ran over a curb and went through the parking lot and the front of the store. The injured included a customer who was in the parking lot and a clerk who was inside the store. Their conditions were unknown.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A convicted Moffett methamphetamine cook will get to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family before turning himself in, according to a decision made in a federal courtroom Friday.

Although he was hoping to avoid federal custody until after the Christmas holiday, David Arthur Dunman, 52, was pleased with the decision made by Federal Magistrate Zack Hawthorne, according to his attorney, Al Charanza. He is set to turn himself into federal custody in Beaumont at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 28.

Dunman’s legal issues began in September 2010, when he was busted by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office for cooking methamphetamine. While out on a $100,000 bond, Dunman was busted again for cooking methamphetamine at his home on FM 842. In July, Dunman was named as the kingpin of a 66-count federal methamphetamine indictment. According to the indictment, Dunman had two women, Deana Sunshine Turner, 25, and Crystal LeAnn Keisler, 22, buying pseudoephedrine for him to use in cooking meth. Keisler is in federal custody while Turner is out on bond.

ANGELINA COUNTY — Citing improved weather conditions, Angelina County commissioners voted Friday to lift the outdoor burn ban. The order allows outdoor burning or outdoor burning of trash, brush or open camp fires in unincorporated areas of the county. However, commissioners said residents should use extreme caution while burning and warned that unattended fires are illegal in the county, punishable by a fine. County officials said they would continue to monitor weather and fire conditions, and Cooper warned that commissioners could re-establish a ban if conditions warrant.

Texas Forest Service responded to two fires for 254 acres in East Texas. The largest was a 250-acre grass fire in Orange County.

Burn bans in Cherokee, Houston, Nacogdoches, Polk, San Augustine, Shelby and Trinity counties were also lifted this week. As of Friday, burn bans were still established in 188 of Texas’ 254 counties including Jasper and Tyler counties, according to the Texas Forest Service.

An outdoor burn ban is still in effect for the city of Lufkin, prohibiting all outdoor burning of brush, trees, storm debris and open campfires in the city. Burning trash and construction material is never allowed within the Lufkin city limits, and the sale, possession or use of fireworks is also prohibited by city ordinance.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin area psychiatrist is turning over his right to practice to the Texas Medical Board. According to a government website, Doyle Brashear, agreed to voluntarily and permanently surrender his medical license for failing to abide by the terms of an agreement reached by the medical board last year. On April 9, 2010, Brashear agreed to stop treatment of chronic pain patients, according to previous reports. The basis for this action was Brashear’s failure to maintain adequate medical records and his failure to follow board rules on the treatment of chronic pain.

According to the Board’s agreed order, Brashear, in his treatment of six patients with chronic pain, violated the standard of care by failing to review existing labs/x-rays or order new ones, and by failing to screen the patients for drug abuse potential, previous reports stated. Board staff additionally found his documentation to be illegible and inadequate.

MARSHALL — The historical childhood home of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle burned to the ground early Thursday. The two-story home at 1200 Harper St. in Marshall was completely engulfed by 1:30 when the fire department arrived, authorities said. The cause of the fire was unknown, but authorities said it may have been caused by a halogen lamp that was knocked over at the back of the house.

“It is completely destroyed,” said Marshall Fire Department Assistant Chief Reggie Cooper. Cooper said 14 firefighters worked until 5 a.m. battling the blaze. The Longview News-Journal reports, no one was inside at the time of the fire, which was being renovated. Cooper said the owner lives out of town.

Former football quarterback in the National Football League, Yelberton Abraham Tittle was born in 1926 in Marshall. As a Giant, Tittle set an NFL record by throwing 36 touchdown passes during the 1963 season, and in 1971, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

GILMER — Upshur County commissioners on Friday dropped a burn ban that had been in effect since June. Also joining in dropping bans on outdoor burning late this week were Titus and Morris counties. Gregg County officials may consider dropping the county’s ban at a Monday meeting. During the special session of the Upshur County Commissioners Court, Fire Marshal Paul Steelman said the county’s danger levels have dropped significantly since the commissioners opted to keep the burn ban in effect. County Judge Dean Fowler can reinstate the burn ban at any time.

Commissioners first adopted a burn and fireworks ban in June. The fireworks ban was lifted in early July with the burn ban set to expire Sept. 19. However, just days before the burn ban’s expiration, several fires damaged areas of Diana, Union Hill, Harmony and East Mountain. Commissioners voted on Sept. 15 to extend the burn ban for 90 days. The lift took effect immediately Friday.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County officials report several stolen items have been recovered after four burglary suspects were caught. Officials say the alleged thieves were involved in at least two burglaries on Thursday between the hours of 8:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Coby Robert Gordy, 17, (pictured) and James William Gullette, 32, were booked into the Smith County jail. They are each charged with two counts of burglary. Bond was set at $30,000 each. Two juveniles were also taken into custody. Officials say Gordy and Gullette may be linked to other crimes in the area. The case is under investigation.

The first burglary occurred in the 17000 block of County Road 15, where a woman noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area. Later that day, her next door neighbor and family member realized his home had been burglarized and she described the vehicle, a white Avalanche, to the authorities. A vehicle matching the description was located later that day on Morningside Dr. in Tyler.

Inside the vehicle, officers found four men, including two juveniles, along with several of the items said to be stolen from the house on CR 15. The items were verified as the stolen property by the homeowner’s name which was etched on many of his belongings. Among the stolen items were guns, electronics, and DVDs. Also found in the car was property which was found to belong to another household which was burglarized that morning on the 8200 block of County Road 1161.

DIBOLL — A worker was taken by medical helicopter to a Tyler hospital following an industrial accident at ATCO Structures this morning. Around 10:00, a wall fell on a 44-year-old man while working at the facility at 1106 N. Temple Drive. Lufkin Fire Department and Diboll first responders transported the man from ATCO Structures to the helipad at Temple-Inland’s corporate headquarters. The company did not release any details immediately after the accident citing the need for further investigation. However, Lufkin Fire Chief Ted Lovett said a sheetrock wall fell on top of the man, and “he had some significant bleeding from the ear area.”

TYLER — A water main that caused conjestion at the intersection of 5th and Broadway has been repaired. However, City of Tyler officials say Elm will be closed down all day tomorrow between Broadway and Spring so they can repair a broken water line.

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man was charged with aggravated assault after police said he was involved in a robbery at a motel. Eric Eugene Christian, 30, remained jailed Thursday on $50,000 bond, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was arrested early Thursday on charges stemming from an assault November 1, at America Dream Inn on East Marshall Avenue.

According to reports, a man at the motel told police that he went to the motel looking for a prostitute. The victim said he met with another man, who called a woman to the hotel room. While in the hotel room, the victim realized that $300 and the keys to his car had been stolen. The victim said he confronted the woman, she tried to run away, and they began arguing, police said. During the argument, Christian entered the room and started hitting the victim in the face several times.

GREGG COUNTY — Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Jean Dark said troopers are looking for a silver or gray 2001 Dodge Durango or Dodge Dakota in connection with the hit-and-run that killed Cesar Cruz about 8:15 Monday night. Dark said the vehicle was traveling northbound on Texas 149 when the motorist struck Cesar, who was most likely in the road.

“The vehicle may have damage to the right front area, with damage to the fog lamp, headlights as well as the turn signal,” Dark said. Officials were not releasing details on the suspect they had interviewed regarding the child’s death. Investigators found parts of a headlamp at the scene that helped them identify the make and model of the vehicle involved.

Deputies were called to the boy’s residence about 6:45 p.m. Monday after family members reported him missing. Cesar’s mother, Brandie Sieger, said she had left the house to take her father to the store. Her mother was at the house watching her four children when she was notified Cesar was missing. Gregg County Sheriff’s Office deputies, responding to reports of the missing boy, found his body in a ditch on Texas 149 near Younger Road, about a mile from where he went missing.

TYLER — Tyler ISD voted to join a class-action lawsuit against the state during their regularly scheduled school board meeting on Thursday night. School officials tell KETK, the vote was unanimous, 6-0, with one member not present. Tyler now joins several East Texas school districts, and hundreds of others from across the state, that are a part of the lawsuit. The lawsuit is a challenge to the Texas funding system for public schools. Supporters of the lawsuit are hoping it will bring more equality to the way funding is distributed to schools. East Texas school districts already involved in the lawsuit include Diboll ISD, Lufkin ISD and Union Grove ISD.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Diboll mother was air-lifted to a Tyler hospital and her husband has been arrested after she suffered a severe head wound. Arthur Brown, 34, is behind bars on a $100,000 bond. His wife, Candace Brown, 29, was seriously injured from falling off the trunk of their car along Highway 59 south Wednesday afternoon.

Brown told Angelina County Sheriff’s Office investigator Seth Stover he was in fear for his life when he hit the gas Wednesday afternoon instead of stopping. Because his actions caused his wife to fall off the trunk of their Cadillac sedan, he is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/family violence.

Candace was airlifted from the scene and taken to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler with a severe head injury.

LINDALE – Two Lindale area burglary suspects are in custody today. The two had been spotted rummaging through farm equipment on property near Hideaway Lake on Farm Road 16 west of Lindale. As officers were talking to the suspects they were able to escape and run into some near by woods.

Dustin Myles Adams, 22, of Lindale, pictured here, was later arrested after leading law officers on a manhunt. The second suspect, Timothy Robin Nelson Jr., 26, of Lindale, was taken into custody while walking down FM 16. They have been charged with felony theft, felony possession of fire arms and evading arrest.

TYLER – A Tyler jury has sentenced a woman to prison for using a deadly weapon during the burglary of a habitation. It took the jury in 241st State District Court about an hour yesterday to sentence Maricela Aguilera Rodriguez, 52, to 30 years in prison. The panel had earlier deliberated several hours before convicting her.

Seven months ago, Rodriguez, who was who was disguised as a man, complete with hat and fake moustache, broke into an apartment to collect $15,000 for her vehicle. Following her arrest she told officers she broke into the wrong apartment.

Once in the apartment Rodriguez then tied up a woman and her three daughters with duct tape. They were able to free themselves and escape through a bedroom window. They were not seriously injured.

LONGVIEW – The director and two employees of the Longview Housing Authority have been reprimanded. The action came after an investigation turned up a culture of favoritism and strong-arming.

The Longview News-Journal reports Housing and Community Development Director Anji Johnson, pictured here, Housing Supervisor Cheteva Marshall and senior caseworker Tonya Pierce threatened at least two property owners and made other exceptions for the benefit of Longview Housing Authority client LaTonya Ivory.

The three employees were placed on six months’ job probation, while Johnson and Marshall served two-day suspensions without pay. Marshall returned to her job yesterday.

MT. ENTERPRISE – Electrical wiring around a cooler is thought to be responsible for a fire that destroyed a Rusk County convenience store. The fire started sometime after 4:00 yesterday morning at Jeanie’s Corner Exxon and Pizza Pro convenience store at the intersections of Highways 259 and 84. The store was not open when the fire started and no injuries were reported.

MARSHALL — One person has been killed after two tractor trailers collided on Interstate 20 in Harrison County. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Sylvia Jennings said troopers were dispatched at about 6:00 yesterday morning to the crash near Farm Road 31 west of Marshall. Dead at the scene was Andrew Mayfield, 35, of Beckville No word this morning on the person injured in the accident.

Officials say the wreck happened when one 18-wheeler hit the back end of another, and in the process, damaged a bridge support column. According to KETK, eastbound lanes on I-20 were closed and will remain so until the bridge can be repaired. TxDOT expects the project to take several weeks.

KILGORE — Kilgore police say seven people have been indicted in a local drug trafficking ring. According to police, in May of 2011 the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) joined in the efforts of local law enforcement agencies, the Kilgore Police Department and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, to bring down a methamphetamine trafficking organization. According to KETK, police say the organization was responsible for the purchasing, selling and distribution of large quantities of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) in the Kilgore and Rusk County Areas. In November of 2011, after an extensive investigation, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas indicted the following alleged members of the trafficking organization:

David Christopher Wheeler, 29, of Kilgore
Raelene Dawn Ferguson, 26, of Kilgore
Bret Glynon Bates, 49, of Kilgore
Terri Rhea Young, 49, of Kilgore
Matthew Dean Willis, 24, of Kilgore
Devyn Leigh Quada, 19, of Jefferson
Harold Burgess Dickens, 41, of Mesquite

They were each indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. All seven have been arrested on the indictments and are currently awaiting trial.

LONGVIEW – No charges have been filed in a Longview accident in which a man was hit by a car. It happened around 6:00 Wednesday evening in the 3400 block of Gilmer Road. Officers arrived they found Kirk Foreman, 58, of Ore City, lying in the roadway. He had been struck by a car driven by Vicki Johnson, 59, of Longview. Foreman was wearing all black clothing in an area not well lit and was attempting to cross Gilmer Road near the intersection of Nikki Drive when he was hit. He was taken to Longview Regional Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.

CANTON — Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers has designated another $1,250 in rewards for the latest anonymous tips that led to the arrests of three individuals on various charges in the county. One of the tips, which alerted deputies to the sales of methamphetamine, led to the arrest of a Canton woman on charges of selling and distributing drugs. Crime Stoppers set aside $450 for that anonymous caller. Two other tips led to the arrests of a Wills Point man whom deputies had sought on a felony theft warrant and a Mineola man who was wanted on a robbery warrant. Those two tips yielded the anonymous callers $400 each.

“Crime Stoppers continues to generate good tips that are helping deputies and police throughout the county catch criminals,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “We are more than happy to keep paying out generous rewards to keep those calls coming in to 903-567-STOP. Everybody wins when callers can get no-questions-asked cash rewards for helping put criminals away.” Calls to the Crime Stoppers tip line, 903-567-7867, are always kept completely anonymous. Callers are given a code for their tip, and when the arrest is made, they can collect the reward for their tip. “With the holidays coming, it’s a good way for people to pick up some extra money for gifts,” Flowers said. “We say, turn in a criminal and have a merrier Christmas.”

Crime Stoppers always offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of a criminal offender who has either just committed a crime or is wanted on a warrant. The Crime Stoppers number is 903-567-STOP (567-7867). Rewards of up to $1,000 are financed by criminal court fines and donations. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at http://www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or on Facebook.

KILGORE — The City of Kilgore is looking to expand its city limits. According to KETK, officials are considering annexing 261 acres northeast of town. It’s also known as the Fredonia community. With both Kilgore and Longview growing, Kilgore wants to get the land before Longview. Kilgore annexed 260 acres earlier this year after stressing the need for more housing options. The Fredonia land could be annexed as early as mid-December.

LUFKIN — A convicted Nacogdoches murderer turned himself in Monday as a suspect in a Lufkin rape. Rickie Griffin, released on parole in October 2002 for the 1988 stabbing death of a man, was taken into custody after a woman he knows told police he raped her Oct. 30.

Griffin is being charged with second-degree felony sexual assault. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison on the new charge. He was to be on parole until 2021 on the murder charge, according to public information.

ANGELINA ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin woman remains hospitalized after her car was crashed into by a man who authorities say admitted to being drunk and high on methamphetamine Tuesday night.

Kaley Linton, 20, is now recovering at Woodland Heights Medical Center with a broken pelvis and back after Marshall Lucas Jr., 27, reportedly ran a red light and struck her driver’s side door around 11:00 Tuesday evening. Linton had to be cut out of her mangled Ford Mustang by Lufkin Fire paramedics while Lucas hopped into the back of a squad car and asked to be taken to the hospital. Lucas then jumped out of the vehicle and told the officers not to take him in. He then reportedly resisted arrest. Lucas remained in the Angelina County Jail on a collective $3,000 bond.

LONGVIEW – A Longview man is accused of the sexual assault of a four year old girl. Taken into custody is Jon Allen Hughes Jr., 30. He was arrested at his home on State Highway 300 after the girl told a family member Hughes had sexually assaulted her. He was booked into the Gregg County jail and bond was set at $50,000

QUITMAN – The Wood County Sheriff’s Department is for asking the public’s help in locating a missing woman. Marquita Gutierrez, 55, of Alba, was last seen on October 14th. She reportedly borrowed her mother’s pickup to go to Canton for a doctor’s appointment but never showed up at the doctor’s office. Her mother’s pickup is described as a white Ford F250 with Texas license plate AX47520. Authorities say the woman has an extensive medical history. Contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office with any information.

TYLER — Tyler Junior College and science officials announce an exhibit of the world’s largest oriented pallasite meteorite. Following its stay at the TJC Center for Earth & Space Science Education through May 2012, the meteorite will embark on a world tour beginning in Australia. Officials say it will likely not be on view again in the United States for another 10 years. Also in attendance were approximately 100 students from Moore MST Middle School. Speakers were Dr. Tom Hooten, director of the Center for Earth & Space Science Education at TJC, and Phil Mani, owner of the meteorite.

Weighing in at 1,430 pounds, the world’s largest oriented pallasite meteorite fell to Earth about 10,000 years ago and was excavated from a field in rural Kansas in October 2005. It’s called the Brenham meteorite, after the Kansas town where it was found. According to science officials, when meteorites enter the earth’s atmosphere, they may be traveling at speeds as high as 17 miles per second. Some meteorites break up under the force of atmospheric pressure, while others spin as they approach the surface of our planet. Very few meteorites maintain the same orientation as they burn through the atmosphere and acquire a conical, rounded or bullet-shape as a result of melting and ablation. These shield or rocket nose-shaped meteorites are extremely rare, and are described as “oriented.”

Pallasites are an extremely rare class of meteorite, accounting for only about 1 percent of all known meteorites. Pallasites are packed with translucent crystals of olivine (the semi-precious gemstone peridot) suspended in a nickel-iron matrix, and are thought to have formed at the core/mantle boundary of an ancient celestial body. The Brenham meteorite is the largest pallasite ever recovered in the United States, along with being the largest oriented pallasite in history. For more information, call 903-510-2312.

TYLER —The Texas Department of State Health Services has advised the Northeast Texas Public Health District that a skunk submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The skunk was found near 18000 County Road 4116 in the Lindale area on Tuesday. Officials say the known individuals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed. This is the first laboratory confirmed case of rabies in Smith County for 2011. Smith County had 1 rabid dog, 2 rabid skunks and six rabid bats reported last year. Officials say rabies remains a public health threat.

Citizens are advised not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons, or other wild animals. Officials say it is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. Anyone who knows of a person being bitten by an animal must report the bite incident to the Smith County Rabies Control Authority for proper investigation.

The Smith County Rabies Control Authority advises all citizens to confirm that their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. City of Tyler Ordinance and Smith County Ordinance require annual rabies vaccinations for all dogs and cats. According to officials, preventive immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against this always fatal disease. Anyone with questions on rabies control may contact City of Tyler Animal Control at 903-535-0045.