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LONGVIEW — There are cybercrimes happening right here in East Texas, and kids are often victims of harassment and obscenity. But according to KETK, there are ways parents can protect their kids. Longview police detective Kevin Brownlee says make sure you know what your child is doing with that smartphone. He says parents can buy software devices that track their children’s whereabouts online. According to Brownlee, parents should also tell their kids to turn an application off if someone starts using it inappropriately. Another good idea Brownlee offers is to have different passwords for your e-mail, Facebook, and phone. He says that way, if someone should hack into one of your accounts, that won’t mean the hacker has access to all of them.

JACKSONVILLE — A man has died after being struck by a train in Jacksonville. The accident occurred Sunday near Woodrow Street in downtown Jacksonville. Police have identified the victim as Brandal Destin Shepard, 21, of Jacksonville. Police say they believe Shepard was wearing headphones and did not hear the train approaching him. Officials believe Shepard died due to blunt force trauma. An autopsy has been ordered.

BEDFORD — A teenager reported missing by Tyler police has been located by the Bedford Police Department. Shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, police requested public assistance in finding 15-year-old Christine Renee Fairchild. She’d last been seen in the area of U.S. Highway 69 North and Loop 323 at around 5:15 Saturday afternoon. Police notified media around 12:30 Sunday morning that the girl had been found. Further details weren’t immediately available, but police said they didn’t suspect foul play.

RUSK — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department confirms that a 13-year old boy has been shot to death. It happened around 3:30 Friday afternoon on Ryder Road just outside the Rusk city limits. The teen was taken to Tyler’s East Texas Medical Center where he later died. No other information has been released on the case.

LUFKIN — Lufkin police tell our news partner KETK a car was shot at while parked at the mall over the weekend. Police responded to gun shots at 4600 Medford Drive. Reports say an SUV back window was shot at while the owner of that SUV was shopping at the mall. We’ll have more details as they become available.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — 38-year-old Michael Jackson was arrested Friday morning at his home near Fruitvale on attempted capital murder charges following a 10-hour standoff in which authorities say he fired more than 100 rounds. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the standoff started about midnight when Jackson called the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office to report that someone was breaking into his home. That’s when Jackson reportedly pointed his gun at officers and fired at least 100 rounds in the house.

The Van Zandt and Smith County sheriff’s departments; the Wills Point, Canton, Grand Saline, and Tyler police departments; the Texas Rangers; Department of Public Safety officers; county constables; and various fire and ambulance responders worked together to bring Jackson out of his home. Officers shot 30 rounds of gas into the house, but it had no effect. Authorities say a friend of Jackson’s arrived in an armored vehicle from the Tyler Police Department and talked Jackson out of the house. The investigation is ongoing. Officers are executing a search warrant to retrieve the guns used in the case.

TYLER — Many stores around East Texas opened their doors extra early for Black Friday — and shoppers have responded in a big way. At Broadway Square Mall, 20 stores opened their doors at midnight compared to only five last year. Mall officials tell KETK they decided to jump on board this year due to the economy and the competition. They report perhaps 2,000 people waiting to get into the mall when it opened. Traffic remained steady from that point on.

LUFKIN — A teenager is arrested at Lufkin store for allegedly flushing merchandise. 18 year-old Ernesto Ricardo Maldonado was arrested Friday morning during a Black Friday event. It happened at the Best Buy on the 4500 block of Medford Drive around 4:00. Officials say security officers spotted Maldonado walking into the bathroom with an HDMI cable tucked under his shirt. They followed him into the restroom, where he reportedly flushed the cable down the toilet. Police say Maldonado had also been drinking. In addition to theft, he was charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor and failure to identify.

CAMP COUNTY — Five starving horses are dumped on a Camp County road earlier this week. Officials were looking for a dually pickup pulling a gooseneck trailer that dumped the horses on CR 1230. One of the horses was sorrel, one was white, one was black, and two were dark brown. Three of the horses had to be euthanized because they were so malnourished. A landowner on CR 1230, the road where the animals were abandoned, is keeping the two remaining animals. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the horses to call the Camp County Sheriff’s Office.

TYLER — Hundreds turn out for the Tyler Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. According to KETK, some 200 volunteers turned out to serve those who have fallen on hard times. The dinner featured turkey and all the trimmings. Though more of a feast than usual, it was just one of countless meals the Salvation Army provides. Staffers say the agency serves around 500 meals daily year-round, not just during the holidays. Staffers point out that plenty of people are still in need, especially in this struggling economy. By the way, today marks the beginning of the Tyler Salvation Army’s annual Kettle Campaign.

TYLER — Still weeks away from Christmas, East Texans are already packing into stores like Target trying to get a jump on buying their kids the hottest toys. KETK reports Jennifer Freeman is visiting family for Thanksgiving and getting a little shopping done for her 4 girls.

“My kids this year are wanting American Girl Dolls, Our Generation Dolls, some of the accessories that go with that,” Freeman said. And when you’re dealing with kids toys, you’ve got to be careful what you buy. Watchdog groups like U.S. Pirg point out what they say are the most dangerous toys every year that deal with choking hazards, lead content, and even noises that can hurt a child’s hearing. Freeman says she doesn’t really pay attention to those lists, but she does use caution. “Certainly when my kids were a younger age, I did if they had small parts. Or I would buy a toy and throw those small parts away that came with it I didn’t think were necessary,” Freeman said.

And reading the labels always helps. “Almost all games now are marked with age groups and safety issues on them, so please be careful; if it says 4 and your child is 3, it’s meant for a 4-year-old and not a 3-year-old. I know that sounds close, but there’s a reason for that,” said Mike Garrett with Tyler’s Target.

LONGVIEW — A dispute over a parking spot landed a Longview woman behind bars Wednesday night and sent a man to an area hospital. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. Longview police arrested 43-year-old Vanesa Blackshire at about 8 p.m. after officers said Blackshire hit a man with her vehicle in the parking lot of Walmart in the 2400 block of Gilmer Road. Police spokeswoman Kristie Brian said the victim was standing in one of the parking spots with a shopping cart waiting for his wife to loop around back into the parking spot. “Evidently the suspect wanted the space also, so she hit the man with her car,” Brian said. Brian said the victim wasn’t transported from the scene of the crash, but later went to the hospital complaining of pain. Blackshire was released from jail Thanksgiving morning on $10,000 bond.

TYLER — Lines were out the door on Thanksgiving as many East Texans chose local restaurants for dinner. According to KETK, Traditions in Tyler was just one area eatery that opted to stay open for the holiday. Observers nationwide say eating out has become much more popular on Thanksgiving. Some say rising prices for Thanksgiving food have made cooking at home as expensive as hitting a restaurant.

LONGVIEW — A teenager is arrested after a shooting that left two people wounded early Thanksgiving morning. Officers responded at 4:06 a.m. to a shots fired call in the 400 Block of Ridglea. When officers arrived they located two victims. Both victims said they had been shot by a man later identified as Pedro Perez, 19, of Longview. Police were told the suspect was in a black Cadillac. A short time later police located a Cadillac believed to be driven by the suspect. According to authorities, Perez fled on foot from police and was captured a short time later. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest. At least one of the victims was transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

LONGVIEW — No criminal charges are expected against Longview Housing Authority employees after municipal and police probes into city policy violations and apparent abuse of power found no laws were broken, city leaders said Tuesday. Longview police detectives and city administrators in the past month investigated allegations made by at least two landlords who said they were strong-armed in September and October by housing authority management for the benefit of a client who is thought to be related to Anji Johnson, manager of the authority.

Johnson, Housing Supervisor Cheteva Marshall and a 20-year senior caseworker, Tonya Pierce, were placed on six months’ job probation after a municipal probe showed they tried to pressure a landlord into approving client LaTonya Ivory’s application for rental housing through the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. The investigation also found the trio pressured Ivory’s previous landlord to return a $700 security deposit.

JACKSONVILLE — A local woman who was missing for four days has been treated and released from the hospital Tuesday. According to police reports, Myra Jeannine Ross was last seen on Friday morning when her son dropped her off to Bonner Place Nursing Home to visit her sister. Ross’ sister Shirley Jones never saw her, according to police reports. Jacksonville Police Detective Greg Compton said the family looked for her on their own over the weekend and contacted law enforcement Monday evening. After night of searching, Ross was found in an abandoned trailer at the intersection of Bolton and Devereaux streets around 11:00 Tuesday morning. Officials say she was dehydrated.

EAST TEXAS — Harrison County and Wood County have followed suit with most other areas in East Texas and lifted their burn bans. Residents may again burn outside, according to the fire marshals’ offices. Authorities region-wide are urging residents to use caution when burning outdoors.

GREGG COUNTY — Child Protective Services say they are starting an investigation into the hit-and-run death of a Gregg County 4-year-old. Deputies were called to the the boy’s residence at about 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 19 after family members reported Cesar Cruz missing. His body was found in a ditch on Texas 149 near Younger Road a few hours later.

Child Protective Services spokeswoman Shari Pulliam said their agency is called to investigate all child deaths. “CPS is currently looking into the supervision of the child at the time of the incident, and making sure that the remaining children are properly supervised,” Pulliam said. She said no children have been removed from the home and noted that CPS was providing grief counseling resources to the family.

This past week, DPS officials said investigators identified 56-year-old Margarito Salinas Aguilar as the driver of a 1999 silver Dodge Durango that they believe hit Cesar, who was walking along Texas 149. Trooper Carl Davis said Aguilar, who is a legal U.S. resident, has been formally issued citations for driving with a suspended license, an expired license and not having his vehicle insured. Aguilar has had a suspended driver’s license since 2004 or 2005 because of unpaid tickets, Davis said. “The tickets have been paid, and the issue now is that he couldn’t get insurance,” he said.

The Gregg County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating the case.

TYLER — Smith County crews were called out to County Road 378 on a report of a vehicle stuck in the trees. It happened just before 9:00 Wednesday night. Troopers say the driver of the White Ford Crown Victoria was reportedly heading down CR 378 when they lost control of the vehicle and plowed into the trees. When troopers got to the scene, the driver was nowhere to be found. Officials said it happens all the time at this particular intersection.

GILMER — An Ore City woman was indicted on two counts of murder Wednesday in the August shooting death of her husband. Sharon Maxwell was charged with murder in late August after her husband, Gordon Maxwell, 46, of Ore City was found dead in a car on Texas 155 in August. His body was found after authorities responded to a vehicle fire at a home on Texas 155, just north of the Ore City limits. Investigators found a body in the vehicle after the fire was extinguished. Officials described the condition of the body as “suspicious in nature.” According to an autopsy issued by the Southwest Forensic Center in Dallas, Gordon Maxwell died from multiple gunshot wounds. According to the Upshur County judicial website, Maxwell was being held on $500,000 bond Wednesday, charged with murder.

TYLER — The Tyler Salvation Army gears up for its annual Thanksgiving feast. Salvation Army officials say, “So many of us think of Thanksgiving as a time for celebrating with family, but, sadly, for many it is a time of stress and frustration at realizing they cannot afford a special meal for their family. Additionally, Thanksgiving is a lonely time for many people, so we are glad we can provide a joyful and loving place for those who are alone to enjoy a great meal.”

At 9:00 Wednesday morning, 50 volunteers gathered to prepare for the Thanksgiving feast. They began wrapping over 800 gifts, cut vegetables, peeled potatoes and got everything ready for the guests. The feast begins Thursday at The Salvation Army Center of Hope located at 633 N. Broadway. Meals will be served from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Almost 200 volunteers have signed up for shifts from 9:00-11:00 and 11:00-1:00 to help make the meal a success. Salvation Army officials add, “We are so grateful to the wonderful Tyler community who make it possible for us to provide a wonderful Thanksgiving meal for so many who would otherwise remain hungry and alone on this Thanksgiving holiday.”

TYLER — Tyler’s Salvation Army kicked off its 2011 kettle season Wednesday at FRESH by Brookshire’s. The Grace Community School Jazz Band provided entertainment for the event, and several local dignitaries, such as State Representative Leo Berman and State Senator Kevin Eltife, were on hand. Also, the 2011 Salvation Army Kettle Bug was unveiled. This VW Bug has been donated by Crown Motor Company for the Salvation Army’s use during the Christmas season and has been wrapped by Leon’s Signs Inc. Salvation Army officials say, “This will serve as a ‘moving kettle,’ so keep your eyes open throughout the season.”

Kettles and Bell Ringers will be ringing from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 31 locations around Smith County November 25 through December 24. Salvation Army officials add, “We are excited about starting off our Kettle season and want everyone to know that each kettle represents an opportunity for people to give to the needy in their own community.” Spokeswoman Amber Foster says the need continues to be great, especially with the economy still struggling. She adds that several kettles are equipped to swipe credit cards.

LONGVIEW — Longview police follow up on a pre-dawn shooting. On November 23 at 1:12 a.m. officers were dispatched to a shooting just occurred in the 100 block of Richardson Street. When officers arrived they were told by the car’s owner that he had fired a weapon in the direction of a car burglar. The burglar, a 37-year old Longview resident, ran from the scene. Officers later located the alleged burglar at a house in the 100 block of Culver Street. He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The case remains under investigation, and criminal charges could be filed at a later date.

TYLER — Officials say an elderly man hit his car’s accelerator by accident Wednesday and ran into the wall of the Tyler Cancer Center as he pulled up to the building for his appointment. According to KETK, minor damage was done to the building, and no injuries were reported. The Cancer Center, part of the Trinity Mother Frances family, is in the North Park Medical Plaza.

LONGVIEW — Our news partner KETK has learned that CPS is investigating the death of 4-year-old Cesar Cruz. CPS officials say they investigate all child deaths. In this case, CPS is looking into the supervision of Cesar at the time of the incident and making sure the remaining children in the home are being properly supervised. CPS says it’s also providing the family with resources for grief counseling.

The driver of the vehicle that hit and killed Cesar has been identified as Margarito Aguilar. According to KETK, the 56-year old claims he didn’t know he had hit anything other than a mailbox or a dog. He also tells authorities he does not own a TV or radio and wasn’t aware of the situation. Aguilar has been taken into custody and is charged with a suspended license and no insurance. The accident occurred about 8:15 p.m. November 14. DPS Trooper Jean Dark said the vehicle was northbound on Texas 149 when the motorist struck Cesar, who was most likely in the road.

Deputies were called to the boy’s residence about 6:45 p.m. November 14 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 — The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas has received numerous reports of fraudulent e-mails that have the appearance of being from the Better Business Bureau. The e-mails appear to be sent from “service.bbb.org”, however, this is not a legitimate BBB email address. The subject line reads: “Complaint #” followed by a phony complaint ID number.

The e-mails are addressed to what appear to be legitimate email addresses and state that a consumer has filed a complaint with your company. They then ask recipients to click on a link in order to respond to the complaint. While this is the verbiage used when an actual complaint is filed, BBB Serving Central East Texas ALWAYS precedes the email with a phone call. Hovering over the link at the bottom of the email will show the actual destination of the link. In this case, it links to a website in the UK. These e-mails and the link included are fraudulent and were not sent by BBB.

According to BBB, recipients should consider the intent of these e-mails as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information or to load malicious software onto end users’ computers. Recipients should NOT access the link provided within the body of the e-mails and should NOT, under any circumstances, provide any personal financial information through this media. To report a fraud or scam, call the BBB Hotline: (903) 581-8373.

WHITEHOUSE — Some residents in Whitehouse are distraught over a price hike in their water bills. According to KETK, some even attended a city council meeting Monday night, demanding answers. City Manager Mike Peterson says the reason the bills are so high is that water usage is up. But angry residents aren’t buying that. They say they’re being ripped off. Peterson says the city plans to install new water meters at no charge for residents who complained about their water bills.

SACUL (AP) – A biomass plant in East Texas has shut down while law enforcement officials investigate a bomb threat scrawled inside a portable toilet. Southern Company spokeswoman Stephanie Kirijan confirms the bomb threat was found Monday evening at the Southern Power biomass plant in Sacul. Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss said the power company and the onsite construction firm decided to close until after Thanksgiving even though a deadline on the note had passed by several hours when it was found. Kerss says the threat is taken seriously because a power plant is considered a national security interest. The company says no fuel load deliveries were scheduled this week because of the holiday. Kerss says the shutdown will lead to a $1.1 million loss.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County commissioners on Monday approved funding a cost-benefit analysis to identify which current county facilities could house four offices slated for relocation. At Monday’s meeting, the court approved limited expeditures of $5,000 for the study by architects and urban planners last week that would identify the best available option for the county to move its election office, adult probation and Precinct 1 constable and justice of the peace.

The court has discussed several versions of relocation plans for three offices that remain in the Smith County Office Building, which is the former Carlton Hotel. For the past three years, the court has initiated and planned projects to exit the building, which it says has become a money pit.

LUFKIN — A panhandler was arrested beneath a Lufkin overpass Monday afternoon for reportedly assaulting a church solicitor who was “in his territory.” Dowell Evans, 72, of Nacogdoches, was booked in on a charge of disorderly conduct for knocking a church donation can out of the hands of 21-year-old Juan Tejeda-Ruvalcaba under the overpass next to El Chico. The can, belonging to the white-uniformed church member from Dallas, then rolled into traffic. Evans reportedly told Tejeda-Ruvalcaba it was his spot first.

Because Evans disturbed the peace, Lufkin Police arrested him on Class C misdemeanor disorderly conduct and took him to the Angelina County Jail. Five days before the incident, Evans was arrested for panhandling beneath the same overpass. Evans has a criminal history dating to 1976, has been to prison twice and at times uses an alias of Burt Anson III, according to public records. There are five different birth dates listed for Evans and his alias, including one that makes him two years younger.