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DAINGERFIELD – One person has been killed in a one vehicle accident north of Daingerfield. Dead at the scene of the Wednesday night crash was Douglas Flowers, 33, of Lone Star. The Department of Public Safety report the Flowers’ vehicle hit a guard rail and the driver lost control. The accident occurred on State Highway 49.

TYLER — Tyler police say a citizen helped them round up a suspect who allegedly had some potentially crime-related items in his possession. Around 2:50 Thursday morning, police say, the citizen was on his way to work when he spotted a man between two homes in the area of College and Second Street. The witness stated that the man lay down on the lawn to keep from being spotted. The witness drove up to a patrol vehicle in the area and told the officer what he’d observed. Officers converged on the Bergfeld Park area to search for the suspect and found him near the restrooms in the park.

Police say upon interviewing the suspect, they found several items considered to be instruments that could be used in committing a criminal act such as residential burglary or assault. The items included a folding knife, black gloves, a canister of OC spray, a black ski mask, a screwdriver, a folding mirror, and two small flash lights. The suspect was identified as Bryan Wynn, 25, of Tyler. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Wynn that was issued by Judge Carole Clark. Wynn was charged with unlawful use of criminal instrument, a third degree felony and released on a $10,000 bond. According to police, “Thanks to the alert and quick response of the citizen, we believe a more serious crime was prevented.”

TYLER — With its heavy health care industry concentration, Tyler stands to be especially affected by possible legislative cuts in funding for hospitals and other components of the health care sector. That’s the word from Texas Hospital Association President Dr. Dan Stultz, who discussed the issue Thursday during a visit to Tyler. Stultz says in the Tyler community, “those ripple-down cuts, those ripple-down effects in state funding for local hospitals will touch everybody.” Stultz points out that health care is one of Tyler’s four largest industries — and he says that sector provides a cutting edge that helps attract employers and families to the area. He also pointed out that the funding cuts would lead to federal match loss for Texas — “so that we’re gonna leave money behind that’ll go to California, Massachusetts, New York, and Florida.” Stultz is urging local residents to be aware of the issue and contact their legislators about it.

AUSTIN (AP) – An East Texan is in the forefront as Republican lawmakers push legislation to oppose federal health care mandates in Texas. One bill, by Representative Leo Berman of Tyler, attempts to outright “nullify” the federal reforms. Asserting national-like sovereignty in some cases, the lawmakers were debating a variety of bills Thursday in a State House Committee aimed at the sweeping federal health care legislation signed by President Barack Obama last year. Many Republican lawmakers say the health care reforms are unconstitutional, particularly the provision requiring people to buy health insurance or face a penalty by 2014. Another bill, by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, would allow states to form alliances, or “compacts,” to take over certain federal health care responsibilities.

RUSK — A Rusk man is behind bars after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman. KETK reports that Michael Parker was arrested Monday. He’s being held in the Cherokee County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

TYLER — Smith County Commissioners will consider pledging revenues from the proposed jail addition to pay down the $35 million debt the project would require. It means, the county will promise to use money generated by housing non-Smith County inmates, like federal prisoners. The expansion could increase jail capacity by almost 400 beds. The bond issue for the jail expansion is on the May 14th ballot.

LUFKIN — A Lufkin woman was arrested Monday on a robbery charge, according to a police report. Earline Garcia, 26, allegedly attempted to steal three packages of Orajel and a bottle of BC pain relief from Brookshire Brothers on North Timberland Monday. She managed to walk out of the store with the items in her purse, but after being confronted by a store employee in the parking lot, she gave them back. When the employee told her police had been called she fled the parking lot in her car, attempting to hit him with her vehicle twice, a police report stated. Garcia was later arrested at her home on Hoskins Street and taken to the Angelina County Jail, charged with second-degree robbery.

She also had 13 outstanding warrants through Lufkin Municipal Court for offenses including unrestrained child, speeding, no driver’s license and expired inspection.
Her bond is set at a collective $6,861 on the outstanding warrants, according to jail records. At last report she remained in the Angelina County Jail.

HENDERSON — A motorcyclist was injured in a head-on collision in Henderson. Rusk County DPS officials say the man was traveling on Highway 43, near Farm Road 2658 in Henderson, when he was struck by an SUV. The man was taken to the hospital with head injuries. The driver of the SUV is said to be okay. The Wednesday morning accident is still under investigation. No word yet on whether any charges will be filed.

TYLER – An Ellis County podiatrist has been indicted and arrested for health care and income tax fraud. Shannon Gallentine, 45, of Maypearl, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 9 and charged with 24 counts of health care fraud and 2 counts of failing to file federal income tax returns. Gallentine was arrested Tuesday and made an initial appearance before Tyler U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos L. Mazzant that afternoon. If convicted, Gallentine faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count.

According to the indictment, from January 2004 through May 2007, Gallentine, a podiatrist, owned and operated Ambulatory Foot Care in Lancaster, Texas. During this time, Gallentine is alleged to have submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for procedures which he did not perform. As a result of these false claims, Gallentine is alleged to have received in excess of $365,000.00 to which he was not entitled. Additionally, it is alleged that Gallentine willfully failed to file federal income tax returns for calendar years 2004 and 2005.

TYLER – Funeral services will be held on Monday for Jerry Kidd, founder of the Kidd Jones convenience stores. He died Tuesday, two weeks after his 77th birthday, following a lengthy illness. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Stewart Family Funeral Home. Services will be held Monday morning at 10:00 at the first United Methodist Church of Chandler.

TYLER — A Smith County judge orders 15-year-old Nate Anderson detained for another 2 weeks at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center. Anderson is being held for the murder of his 19-year-old sister, Amanda, who was found shot in the head in their New Chapel Hill home last September. A hearing is set up to determine whether or not he will be tried as an adult.

DIBOLL — Former Diboll Police Chief Kent Havard pleaded guilty to stealing city funds Tuesday, accepting a plea deal for three years probation. Havard will also pay full restitution to the city, totaling about $5,000, in addition to paying a $500 fine and agreeing to permanently surrender his peace officer commission, according to Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington. Havard resigned his 30-year post at the Diboll Police Department on March 2, after being informed he was under investigation by the Texas Rangers.

After the investigation was complete, it was determined there were several incidences of theft, including charges to the city credit card at Wal-Mart and Minute Maid Park, and five stolen cashed checks, Herrington said. Facing grand jury for indictment on March 29, Havard came forward and admitted his guilt Tuesday, Herrington added. According to Herrington, “He said he had gotten into a financial bind and just thought he would borrow that money. He hoped to pay it back but he was not able to do that,” Herrington said. Herrington went on to commend Havard for coming forward. The City of Diboll has appointed retired Texas Ranger Donald Morris interim police chief until a replacement for Havard can be found.

TYLER (AP/Staff) – A judge has ruled that an East Texas teen accused of fatally stabbing his teacher is unfit to stand trial and should get additional evaluation. The review will help determine whether Byron Truvia needs to be committed to a mental health institution. He was a juvenile when special education teacher Todd Henry (pictured) was attacked in a classroom at John Tyler High School in September 2009. Defense attorney Jim Huggler says the ruling Wednesday in Tyler, by Judge Floyd Getz, means the 17-year-old suspect will be returned to Vernon State Hospital for evaluation by two physicians over the next 90 days. Huggler says the physicians will determine whether the youth should be committed to a hospital where he would receive further evaluations every year.

TYLER — Tyler police welcome the newest K-9 member, Paco, to join the Tyler Police Department K-9 program. Police introduced Paco at Food Fast Store #70, located at 1222 WSW Loop 323. Paco is a two-year-old German shepherd male who is imported from the Netherlands. He was trained by U.S. Canine Unlimited in Katlan, Louisiana. Paco has been trained to track people and to detect marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and ecstasy. Police are thanking Food Fast Corporation for its donation to the police department, which allowed the department to purchase a second K-9 and pay for its training. This is the second donation in recent years by Food Fast to the Police Department to provide funding towards the K-9 program.

AUSTIN — Dog owners whose pets kill a child or senior citizen could spend some time in prison. For Jacksonville Republican State Representative Chuck Hopson, the issue is personal. He’s had two kids lost in his district to vicious dog attacks. Hopson says it would be a first-degree felony when a child under the age of fifteen or an adult over the age of 65 is killed by a dog. Hopson says someone would face that charge only if the person had been notified that he or she had a vicious dog, or if it was the dog owner’s negligence that led to the fatal attack. The bill is being considered by a House committee.