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TYLER — Authorities say Adrian Blankenship Jr., one of the men charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Nicole Cartwright of Longview, entered a plea deal Thursday in a Smith County courtroom. According to KETK, this brings his charge down from first degree murder to manslaughter, also reducing his sentence to 20 years in prison. Cartwright was found shot to death outside of a Tyler car wash on Christmas Eve in 2010, after being caught in the crossfire of a gun allegedly shot by another man, Gregory Polley. Polley pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Blankenship was said to be in the same car as Polley at the time of the shooting.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are investigating the death of a 10-year-old J.L. Everhart student who died Wednesday evening in an area hospital. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Jamaal Jones, of Longview was pronounced dead at about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday at Good Shepherd Medical Center after being transported from his grandmother’s home in the 200 block of Harvard Ave., Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson said.

Longview police and emergency medical services were called to the residence at about 6:50 p.m. in connection with a boy who had been injured in the front yard. Longview police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said officers were called to investigate, but Jameson said “the child’s death appears to be an accident at this time. The injury appears to be a spinal cord injury from an accident.” Jameson said the fourth grader’s body was sent for autopsy in Fort Worth for an official ruling on what caused his death.

Longview ISD officials said counselors were being made available at J.L. Everhart for grieving students. According to a school district statement, “All of us at Longview ISD are touched by the tragic loss of Jamaal Jones, a 4th grade student at J.L. Everhart, and we pray that his family can find peace. Our thoughts and prayers are also with Jamaal’s extended family – the students and staff at J.L. Everhart.”

WINONA — A one-acre fire has been contained after breaking out Thursday morning on FM 1252 in the Winona area. The blaze had threatened one home. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said the pasture fire was caused by a squirrel on an electric line.

WHITE OAK — Gregg County Crime Stoppers and the White Oak Police Department are seeking information on the identity of the suspect seen in this picture, who was responsible for the attempted break-in of the ATM at Citizens Bank, located on S. White Oak Rd. The suspect is a white male, who can be seen on security video walking up to the ATM with a hammer and lug wrench. The suspect is able to get the lower door of the ATM open, but was unable to gain access to the cash vault. The suspect is seen in the video walking north on S. White Oak Rd.

Anyone with information is requested to contact Lt. Ferris Ellis, White Oak PD, at 903-759-0106 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.com or 903-236-STOP (7867).

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man who burned down his mother’s home with a methamphetamine lab last year became emotional in the courtroom Wednesday as he was sentenced to additional prison time. That’s according to KETK and the Lufkin Daily News. James Durham Jr. got 20 years in prison on an evading arrest charge last week. Now he’s received another 25 years in prison on each of three charges, including arson, possession of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Because he is to serve those charges concurrently, the 38-year-old man technically only received another five years in prison.

After being sentenced by state District Judge Gerald Goodwin, he told the court there was something he would like to say about the day he was shot earlier this year by two men near the charred remains of his mother’s home. “I might be what the papers say, but that day I was mowing my yard, two men drove up and shot me with a shotgun and a .22 and beat me with a two-by-four, and I didn’t deserve it. It was premeditated. I hope and pray justice is served on them, same as it was on me,” Durham said. “They shot me while I was on the ground, in the buttocks. I have to wear a (colostomy) bag now. I’ll have to wear that for the rest of my life for something that I don’t even know why they shot me, and they’re going to get away with it. They weren’t even charged. They drove up in my yard and shot me dead.”

After speaking with Angelina County District Attorney Clyde Herrington about getting help for his drug problem, Durham was taken back to the Angelina County Jail, where he will be housed until being transported to prison.

MARSHALL — Pilgrim’s Pride is prepared to appeal a recent decision in Marshall federal court in which a judge ruled the company must pay $26 million. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the company was found guilty of manipulating the price of chicken in 2009. The most damaging evidence against the company came from an e-mail that stated the sale of one processing plant would “foil their plans” to restrict chicken and increase prices. Individual growers could get up to $700,000 from the ruling.

NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches woman and her ten children are trying to get things back on track after being forced out of their residence. Fire devoured the family’s mobile home Tuesday afternoon on George Street. According to KETK, homeowner Cassandra Washington says she lost three dogs in the blaze. The fire marshal believes the fire was accidental.

MINEOLA – Authorities believe they have found the vehicle that fatally struck a Mineola teen, but no arrest has been made. The pedestrian victim in the hit and run crash that occurred Tuesday night on U.S. Highway 69 in Wood County is identified as Jacob Mikal Burrell, 15. According to KETK, Burrell was pronounced dead around 10:30 Wednesday morning at Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center.

Following the accident, which happened around 8:15 Tuesday night, the Department of Public Safety put out information about the vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle was believed to be a 2008 or newer white Chevrolet Avalanche with black plastic trim and 20 inch stock rims. The vehicle was last seen on U.S. Highway 69 North in Mineola. The vehicle is likely to have damage to its front end and/or damage to its right front quarter panel. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office at 903-763-2201 and reference case number 11-07582.

LONGVIEW — Officials at Good Shepherd Medical Center’s 26-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit has once again received a three-year accreditation from CARF International (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). This is Good Shepherd Medical Center’s sixth consecutive three-year accreditation for their Inpatient Rehabilitation Program.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.

“We are tremendously proud of all our staff members who work passionately every day to take the best possible care of our patients,” said Ron Short, Vice President of Operations. “It is because of our Rehabilitation staff’s tireless dedication to providing quality patient care that we were again able to receive this prestigious accreditation.”

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. CARF establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their services.

TYLER — Kevin Dilley has been named adviser of the Patriot Talon, the student newspaper at The University of Texas at Tyler. This appointment is effective January 2012.

As adviser, Dilley will provide professional guidance, training and support to Patriot Talon editors and staff. He also will serve as a lecturer in journalism. “Kevin is an expert at photography and in pairing words with pictures to tell the story. His consulting and professional experiences, along with his collegial manner will really benefit our students. I believe he’ll be a great addition to our department and to the university community,” said Dr. Dennis Cali, Department of Communication chair.

Dilley comes to UT Tyler after serving at Fayetteville State University as a lecturer and The Voice student publication adviser. Prior to joining Fayetteville State University, he was an adjunct professor in Emerson College’s Department of Journalism. In addition, Dilley has nearly 20 years of print and visual media experience as a writer, design and photo editor and staff photographer. He also has worked for Creative Circle Media Consulting where he managed newspaper design projects and developed web design endeavors for newspaper companies. Dilley currently leads workshops in photography and newsroom management in efforts to achieve higher photojournalism content standards.

OMAHA, NEB. (AP) — Three conservation groups are suing to halt preliminary work on a proposed 1,700-mile-long oil pipeline from the tar sands of western Canada to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. The route takes it through eastern Smith County.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Nebraska contends that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke the law by allowing Canadian pipeline operator TransCanada to start preparing the route for its Keystone XL pipeline. The groups say federal officials allowed TransCanada to clear a 100-mile pipeline corridor through the Nebraska Sandhills, despite a federal law barring projects from launching before they receive approval.

The project would cross the Ogallala aquifer, which supplies groundwater to Nebraska and seven other states.

The lawsuit also names the U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Sentencing may be postponed for the wife of a former Oklahoma prison warden convicted of helping a convicted killer escape. Bobbi Parker is to be sentenced today for helping Randolph Dial break out of the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. But a new hearing has been scheduled for this afternoon on a defense motion to disqualify Greer County District Judge Richard Darby. Darby denied the motion on Monday.

Comanche County Judge C. Allen McCall will preside at the rehearing. Attorneys say that could delay Parker’s sentencing. Isaacs has also asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to release Parker on bond pending her appeal. The court has given Darby 10 days to respond. Prosecutors allege Parker ran off with Dial. Isaacs maintains Dial kidnapped her and held her hostage. They were found on a chicken farm in Shelby County Texas.

BULLARD — Residents of Bullard will soon have a sign to show their trust in God. At its meeting Tuesday evening, the City Council voted unanimously that the “In God We Trust” motto will be displayed in chambers. Bullard Mayor Pam Frederick tells KETK they’ll be posting the motto as soon as the letters are ordered and put into place. Frederick says she believes it’s the right thing to do. Smith County was the first courtroom in Texas to post the “In God We Trust” motto. Some other East Texas communities have since followed suit.

MARSHALL — Harrison County officials say a missing man’s body has been found after a fire. According to KETK, the Sheriff’s Office received a call lat Saturday about a missing person, Forrest Weeks, 59, at the end of Baker Bridge Rd., close to the Harrison County-Marion County boundary.

When a deputy arrived, it was determined that the missing Weeks may have walked into a wooded and heavily brushy area and had not been seen again. Deputies, assisted by deputies on horseback and on foot, and four-wheelers, tried to follow a trail. However, they were unsuccessful in finding him by nightfall.

When the deputies returned to the area on Sunday morning, the search crews consisted of 2 tracking dogs, Department of Public Safety helicopter unit, Texas Game Wardens, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement officials. A search was commenced within the approximately 600 acre area of heavy brush and woods. The search crews worked for approximately 8 hours and did not find the missing person. On Monday, approximately 15-20 cadets from the Alert Academy in Big Sandy and the other search crews returned to the area, but were unsuccessful in locating the missing person.

During the morning, Harrison County dispatchers received calls of a fire that had begun in the area of Lee Island Rd. close to the area of the search boundaries. Fire crews were dispatched and the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service was requested to cut fire lines around the area in an attempt to contain the fire. On Tuesday, as the fire crew was continuing to perform the bulldozing of the area, an operator of a bulldozer noticed what he believed to be a body inside the fire line. He called for assistance and the body of the missing person was found in the area of the fire. Judge Nancy George was notified and she pronounced the victim, Forrest Weeks, to be deceased. An autopsy has been ordered by Judge George.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say a Gilmer man led them on a chase. On Tuesday, Officers Paul Penick and David Lindsey responded to a domestic problem in the 4500 Block of Cannon Street at 10:36 p.m. Prior to their arrival, they were told the suspect, Nolan Parker, 56, of Gilmer, was en route to the location with a gun. They were also told that Parker was very intoxicated and driving a maroon Pontiac Vibe.

While officers were on their way to Cannon Street, they saw the suspect vehicle on Gilmer Road and initiated a traffic stop. Police say during the stop, the driver drove away from officers and they began to pursue him. Over the course of the pursuit, the driver reportedly stopped several times and opened the car door. Each time he allegedly failed to comply with officers’ demands to get out of the vehicle, closed the door, and continued driving.

According to a police report, officers were able to deploy a spike strip near the 7900 Block of U.S. Highway 259 in an attempt to stop Parker’s car. The report says that after Parker’s car crossed the spike strips, he continued to drive approximately ½ mile until his vehicle came to a stop. Parker was taken into custody and officers transported him to the Gregg County Jail. He was charged with evading arrest in a Vehicle, DWI 1st offense, and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

AUSTIN – Federal disaster assistance has been extended again as a result of wildfires that burned through drought-stricken Texas on or after Aug. 30, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Tuesday. The latest amendment to the Sept. 9 presidential disaster declaration for the wildfires adds five East Texas counties – Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Houston and Rusk – to the list of four counties in the state already set to receive federal aid under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program. The other counties are Bastrop, Colorado, Leon and Walker.

The PA program helps reimburse applicants for the cost of removing disaster-related debris from public rights of way, and for measures taken by state and local emergency responders to protect lives and property before, during and after the disaster. The program also helps defray the cost of repairing roads, public buildings, utilities, schools and other public infrastructure damaged or destroyed as a result of the wildfires.

Supplementary funding under the PA program goes to the state, state agencies, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. Under the program, FEMA obligates funds to the state for 75 percent of eligible costs, while the state or applicant covers the remaining 25 percent. The state then forwards the funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs. Go to http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm for more information about the PA program.

TYLER — Smith Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips announces he’s running for a second term. A news release from Phillips’s GOP campaign says, “Terry Phillips has an excellent conservative voting record and is known to be the most conservative Commissioner on the court. Terry’s voting record clearly supports the views of a large majority of the voters in Precinct 3, who favor low taxes and protecting personal property rights. Terry is active in the community, attending dozens of events and meetings, and is a tireless advocate for conservative values.”

VAN ZANDT — A 31-year-old man has been killed in a wreck on Interstate Highway 20. It happened around 1:00 yesterday morning near the 538 mile marker. Van Zandt County Department of Public Safety said the man was driving in the westbound lanes when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the concrete median. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected onto the roadway, where he was run over by an 18-wheeler. His car burst into flames upon impact of the median. Officials are still investigating the incident, and will not release the man’s name until his family has been notified. Interstate 20 was shut down for a few hours while officials cleared the scene.

RUSK — A biker participating in Saturday’s motorcycle rally is in critical condition after flipping his vehicle in Rusk, according to officials at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Noah and Patsy Louviere were rounding a sharp curve at the Rusk Railroad park when he lost control of his three-wheeled motorcycle and the vehicle flipped over a steep embankment into the dry bed of Cherokee Lake. Mr. Louviere was airlifted to ETMC inTyler. Patsy Louviere sustained mild injuries and is currently in fair condition, ETMC in Tyler.

MARSHALL — Sharon Nichols, who was charged with indecency with a child Friday along with her husband, former sheriff’s deputy and local pastor Eddie Nichols, was fired Tuesday from her position as deputy county clerk. Nichols, 33, was employed as deputy county clerk from June 2, 2008, until her termination Tuesday. Before that, she worked part-time in the county judge’s office from June 14, 2007, to May 30, 2008.

Her husband, who is also an ordained minister, was employed with the sheriff’s office for three-and-a-half years until his termination. Before his employment with the sheriff’s office, the 49-year-old worked for 13 years as a police officer with Marshall Police Department, where he also served as chaplain. Nichols’ position as pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, on U.S. 59, could not be verified Tuesday, but there is a sign at the church noting that a parking space is “Reserved for Pastor Eddie Nichols.”

The couple was arrested Friday and placed in the Harrison County jail. Both have been arraigned. Eddie Nichols was charged with two counts of indecency with a child by contact; his bail was set at $200,000. His wife, whose bond was set at $100,000, posted bond immediately and was released.

TYLER — Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tyler Affiliate will be joining forces with Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants throughout the Tyler area today for “Mike’s Way To A Cure” Day. That day local Jersey Mike’s locations will donate 50% of their sales to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It is part of a six-month nationwide campaign called “Mike’s Way to a Cure” which began in May in support of Susan G. Komen’s mission to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The campaign will conclude at the end of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

TYLER — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce honors its top citizens and organizations at its annual meeting. The T.B. Butler Award for citizen of the year was given to Stephen Dement, founder of the Brook Hill School and its on-campus American Freedom Museum. Dement said he was honored — and that all of Brook Hill’s work is for the youth of Smith County. He remarked, “Sometimes we wonder if it’s worth it. And then we see children excel. Their challenge, their potential is realized, and they go on to achieve great things.”

The W.C. Windsor Award for top citizen under 40 goes to Roy Martinez, Regions Bank’s community banking sales manager for East Texas. Martinez told the audience, “I’m just really proud and real happy to be here, to have these people all here today that not only helped me but help others that we’ll never know in the future who will benefit from what you’re doing today.” Large Business of the Year is Henry and Peters, P.C.; top small business is Mentoring Minds; and the Volunteer of the Year award was handed to the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum.

WILLS POINT – A young mother has died after being dragged by a horse. Cheyenne Nicole Ramirez, 18, of Wills Point, died in a Tyler hospital Tuesday following the Monday accident. Investigators say the mother on an 16-month old was mounting the horse when something spooked it. The horse started running, with the teen’s spur caught in the stirrups. Investigators say the horse dragged her about half a mile.

FLINT – A mobile home in the Flint area is nothing more than rubble today because of a fire late Tuesday afternoon. It was reported around 5:00 o’clock on Farm Road 2493. The handicapped resident of the house was able to flee to safety. Firemen rescued the woman’s pet dog from the rubble. No word on what caused the blaze.

KILGORE – A substation malfunction is being blames for a Kilgore power outage. Over 4,700 residents and businesses, including the Kilgore school district and Kilgore College, lost power around 9:00 Tuesday. The power was back on about an hour later. Southwestern Electric Power Co. spokesman Scott McCloud said the outages across the city were caused when eight circuits locked out.

BULLARD — The drought takes its toll on East Texas hay growers. According to KETK, the dry weather is creating a hay shortage. That means farmers and ranchers have to go out of state to buy hay — and pay higher prices. The ASPCA is even offering a $250,000 hay bailout, to be used to help feed animals across Texas and Oklahoma. Bullard hay baler Taylor Hand is among those feeling the pinch. He says current hay sources include Louisiana and Arkansas — even as far north as Minnesota and Canada. Hand says he doesn’t know how much longer farmers and ranchers — his customers — can hang on.

TYLER — The Trinity Mother Frances Health System Board of Directors announced the appointments of Steven P. Keuer, M.D., as President and Chief Medical Officer and Gifford V. Eckhout, Jr., M.D., M.B.A., as Executive Vice President/Chief of Anesthesia. Both physicians have served in their respective roles on an interim basis following Dr. David Teegarden’s retirement in April. Dr. Keuer previously served as Executive Vice President. Dr. Eckhout has served for many years as a Trinity Clinic physician and in other physician advisory positions.

“With the appointments of Steve and Gifford, the Board wishes to affirm our commitment to the vital role that strong physician leadership plays in our organization and in our future. They bring a strong vote of confidence from the members of the Trinity Clinic and the System Board and round out our highly effective veteran leadership team,” said Preston Smith, Chairman of the Trinity Mother Frances Health System Board.

TYLER — The current burn ban in Smith County was extended for 90 days by the Smith County Commissioners Court during a regular meeting Tuesday morning. Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton recommended the burn ban’s extension due to continuing extreme drought conditions and the likelihood of a severe winter fire season. “We are expecting the severity of our fire situation to increase as we enter winter and the little bit of live foliage we still have dies off,” Seaton said.

Since July 1, the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office has recorded 563 fire responses, 372 burn ban warnings, 156 burn ban citations and three counts of reckless destruction of property. Smith County has also had 25 structures and 34 vehicles destroyed or damaged in wildfires. Seaton cautioned that the burn ban extension will restrict many popular seasonal activities and products that involve an open flame including the use of camp fires, porch chimneys and fire pits, “tiki-torches,” mosquito candles and turkey fryers. “We sympathize with burden the burn ban places on the citizens, but we in the fire service see no other alternative,” Seaton said. Supervised outdoor grilling with a covered grilling device is not prohibited under the burn ban. You can visit http://www.smith-county.com for a full copy of the burn ban and all ordinance restrictions.

LONGVIEW — More Longview retailers are cited in the police department’s latest alcohol stings. On Saturday, police partnered with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Longview Partners in Prevention to conduct off-premise stings at area retailers to validate compliance with Texas law prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors. Members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving also accompanied several of the officers. 36 alcohol retailers were checked by the undercover teams, and 7 allegedly sold alcohol to the undercover minors. The locations cited were:

1. 1316 Alpine – Food Fast # 18
2. 1917 Judson Road – Road Runner Superette # 2
3. 1800 S. High Street – Super 1 Foods # 632
4. 2001 N. Eastman Road – Zippy J’s No. 5
5. 1123 W. Cotton Street – Anita Food & Fuel
6. 4108 W. Loop 281 # 101 – Kyle’s Kwik Stop # 3
7. 1721 Hwy. 31 South – Smart Mart

At these locations the individuals who allegedly sold alcohol to the undercover minor were listed in offense reports for “making alcohol available to a minor.” This offense is a class A misdemeanor, and the reports will be filed with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. In addition, TABC issued administrative citation(s) to each of the businesses. One of the suspects was arrested on an outstanding Gregg County warrant for sale of alcohol to a minor.

MARSHALL — 91 Arkansas contract poultry growers would receive $26 million in damages under a ruling issued by a federal judge in Marshall. U.S. Magistrate Charles Everingham found Pilgrim’s Pride was deliberately attempting to manipulate the price of chicken when the company decided to close its El Dorado plant in early 2009. Plaintiffs’ attorney Bob Depper says the turning point in the case was an email concerning the sale of another plant. Depper says when Pilgrim’s had the opportunity to sell the farmable plants it had closed down, there was an internal memo that said the company couldn’t do that because it would foil its plan. Awards to individual growers ranged from $50,000 to over $700,000. The judge indicated there had been difficulty in determining damages because some growers had failed to keep accurate records.