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LONGVIEW — A man struck and killed by a train in Longview December 28 is identified as Sean Lee Holloman, 38, of Longview. Officers responded to a call of a pedestrian that had been struck by an oncoming train on the tracks located between Green Street and Fredonia Street. When officers arrived they located Holloman who was dead. A witness said the victim was walking down the railroad tracks waving at the train as it came towards him.

HALLSVILLE (AP/STAFF) — An overnight fire at the Tall Pines Mobile Home Park just outside Hallsville has killed Cody Cohen, 8. Two relatives were injured

The fire was reported around 12:30 Tuesday morning. Harrison County Fire Marshal Thomas Mock says the child was dead at the scene. Mock says the boy’s mother and grandmother were transported to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. A total of three children and three adults were in the home when the fire started. While investigators look for the cause of the fire, it is believed to be electrical in nature.

TYLER — Tyler Police have arrested a suspect wanted in the break-ins at the South Tyler Animal Clinic on Old Jacksonville Highway. Travis Carl Lemmert, 17, Tyler was charged with burglary of a state building. The burglaries happened December 26 and January 3. Police say surveillance video led to a tip which in turn led to the arrest. Some of the medications that were stolen have been recovered.

LONGVIEW – The investigation into the death of a Gregg County jail prisoner has resulted in five jail employees being fired and two of them being arrested. Arrested were Tomeka Cross, 34 and Brian West, 30.

Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, of Gilmer, was found unresponsive in a separation cell at the North facility before midnight last Tuesday. Cowling was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center and was dead on arrival early Wednesday morning.

Sheriff Maxey Cerliano said all documents, reports, logs, and electronic recordings pertaining to Cowling were secured and reviewed by investigators. It was discovered that a jail observation log had been falsified by a Gregg County Jail staff member. This information was forwarded to Texas Ranger Brent Davis and presented to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. An arrest warrant was issued by District Judge David Brabham charging Cross with tampering with a government document. She had been employed at the jail just over four months. Last Friday Cross was fired and booked into the Gregg County Jail. She appeared before Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson and bond was set at $2,500. Brian West, 30, of White Oak was also arrested and charged with tampering with government records. The sheriff did not rule out more arrests or additional charges in the case.

Investigators determined that other employees were involved in conduct that was in direct violation of the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office general orders, code of conduct, and jail operational guidelines. Fired as a result of these violations were Corporal Kashena Davis, jailer Jacqueline Smiddy, jailer Gary Lewis, and jailer Brian West. During the investigation jailer Darrell McClenton resigned.

Sheriff Cerliano said information regarding the jail observation log as well as additional information was forwarded to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. The Commission determined that the jail was in Non-Compliance effective December 30, 2010. This finding resulted in the transfer of all Smith County contract inmates at the Gregg County Jail to the Upshur County Jail. Since Smith County is under a remedial order, those inmates can only be housed in a county jail in Compliance.

Sheriff Cerliano added that the investigation is ongoing and the autopsy report is pending. The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, and Gregg County District Attorney’s Office are conducting the investigation. Sheriff Cerliano stated that if anyone has done anything improper regarding the incarceration of Cowling or has failed to follow medical standards established to safeguard the health of all inmates, that employee will be dealt with quickly and severely.

LONGVIEW – Captain Mike Claxton with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Department confirms a street-arrest prisoner was found with a handgun while in custody. Claxton says the prisoner was transported to the Gregg County Jail, when they found a handgun inside a pant leg during his booking. It happened after he had been restrained in handcuffs and leg irons, which Claxton says is standard procedure. DeMichael Johnson, 19, now faces, besides the original arrest charge, a complaint of having a deadly weapon in a penal institute

TYLER — A Tyler Officer was injured while chasing a suspect. It happened Monday 2:25 a.m. Tyler Officers responded to 435 S.Bonner Apartment 8 on a residential burglary in progress. The suspect was attempting to enter the apartment through the bedroom window as the owner fled out the front door. When officers arrived on the scene the suspect fled the apartment on foot into the neighborhood with officers giving chase. The apartment owner said that she believed she knew the suspect who was attempting to retrieve some property from her.

Officer Wes Lawrence was one of the officers in foot pursuit of the suspect in a wooded area when he fell into a concrete drainage ditch after climbing over a chain-link fence. Officer Lawrence suffered head trauma after striking his head on the pavement and dislocated his shoulder. Officer Lawrence was transported to East Texas Medical Center and has been placed into ICU for observation. This case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police Investigators have made an arrest in connection to the shooting of Nicole Cartwright, 15, that occurred on December 24. The suspect is identified as Adrian Earl Blankenship Jr., 22, Longview. Judge Kennedy signed the arrest warrant for 1st Degree Murder and placed a $500,000 bond on Blakenship. This case remains under investigation.

Authorities say Cartwright left Club REO to meet with family and friends, also from Longview, at the car wash on West Bow Street. Once at the car wash a disturbance occurred in the parking lot between four females in a gray or blue car with dark tinted windows, possibly a Pontiac, and a group of individuals in a red Dodge Challenger. Shots were fired, striking Ms. Cartwright who later died at a local hospital. Investigators have determined that Ms. Cartwright was not involved in the disturbance nor was she in either vehicle.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate a Monday morning attempted sexual assault. According to the Tyler Police Department, officers responded to a call shortly after 5 a.m. regarding an assault that happened in the 1500 block of S. College, near Bergfeld Park. The victim said she was attacked by a man, dressed in all black while she was jogging. Evidently, the man was hiding in a wooded area and jumped the woman from behind…wrestling her to the ground. After touching her inappropriately, the victim was able to break loose from the attacker. Police say she was carrying pepper spray and an air horn. The suspect is described as around 6’6 between 220 and 240lb.

The Tyler Police Department advises women, never jog alone at night and always be prepared with something to protect themselves, like pepper spray, an air horn, or a large stick. If possible always take a friend when you exercise outside.

RUSK COUNTY — An East Texas robbery suspect is apprehended. It happened last Monday around 12:30. Derric O’Brien Blanton, Henderson, was arrested in Nacogdoches County in connection with an aggravated robbery in Rusk County. The robbery was reported December 21, around 10:00 p.m. at the Conoco Station in Mt. Enterprise. On Friday, Blanton was extradited to Rusk County where he remained in jail awaiting arraignment.

On Sunday at approximately 10:00 am, Blanton was arraigned by Honorable Judge Jerdy Wolverton, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, in Rusk County. Blanton was charged with aggravated robbery. His bond is set at $60,000. Blanton currently remains in the Rusk County Jail.

MARSHALL — Officials are celebrating the success of a holiday event in East Texas. Marshall’s 24th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival was a huge success with thousands of people visiting the event each night of the 5 week run. Tomi Johnson of the Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau says a stellar concert series, the outdoor ice skating rink and thousands of Christmas lights in the downtown area helped to draw the crowd. Preparations for the 25th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival in 2011are already underway.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department released the results of the “No Refusal DWI Campaign” December 30th through January 2nd, 2011. Authorities say total DWI arrests for the campaign for all agencies were 12. DPS had 7 DWI arrests and Tyler PD had 5 DWI arrests. Total number of refusals for breath/blood specimens was 3. DPS had 2 refusals and Tyler PD had 1 refusal. Officials say, compared to last year’s total number of arrests, 15, this year saw a decrease of 20% in the number of DWI arrests.

Authorities say Lindale PD had a fatality accident during the campaign, on January 1st. It was believed to be alcohol related, but resulted in the death of the suspect; blood results are pending.

HENDERSON (AP) – A Fort Worth hunter who allegedly thought he bagged a deer faces a weapons charge over the fatal shooting of an Overton man. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced 54-year-old Rodney Connally has been arraigned on a felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Bond was set at $50,000. Sgt. Viki Penny had no information on an attorney for Connally. She told The Associated Press it does not appear that Connally knew 41-year-old Louis Conner Jr. The shooting happened Saturday morning on a deer lease. Penny says Connally notified officers when he thought he shot a deer, then discovered Conner had been shot. Penny described the investigation as an “accidental shooting” and says results will be forwarded to prosecutors. Further details on Connally were not immediately released.

LONGVIEW — Four persons have been cited for reckless damage or destruction following a four acre grass fire. It started near Longview around 1:00 New Year’s morning when fireworks the group was shooting started a fire in a wooded area near McCann and Graystone Road. Had it not been for the quick response by the Longview and Judson Metro Fire Departments, nearby houses and buildings could have been destroyed or damaged.

MABANK – Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the New Year’s Day fire at the Edward Jones Building in Mabank. It was reported around 8:00am. While the fire was contained in the Jones’ building, there was some smoke damage at nearby stores. No injuries were reported.

EAST TEXAS — Tyler and Longview have welcomed the first babies of the New Year. Both were little girls. Tyler’s first born in 2011 arrived at Mother Francis Hospital at 12:26 Saturday morning. Lillian Elizabeth Holm tipped the scales at 8 pounds and one ounce. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Tiffany Holm. By 5:30 Saturday night, six babies were born at Mother Francis Hospital.

Longview’s first born of the year arrived at 3:32 Saturday morning at Good Shepherd Medical Center. She is Nyla Pierce, the daughter of Nathan and Carrie Pierce of Carthage. Nyla weighed in at 7 pounds and 8 ounces.

TYLER — Suddenlink and Viacom have announced that they’ve reached an agreement, in, principle, on a long-term contract. That means the new agreement covers all of the Viacom networks included under the prior agreement. Of those networks, the seven typically featured on Suddenlink’s widely available Expanded Basic service are MTV, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Comedy Central, Spike TV, VH1, CMT. The others are featured on optional digital services and include Logo, Palladia HD, Nick Jr., TeenNick, NickToons, Nick2, MTV Hits, MTV2, MTV Jams, Tr3s, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, and CMT Pure Country.

In addition, EPIX will be made available to Suddenlink customers in the next few months. EPIX provides consumers with the latest Hollywood movies, 15,000 films from three of the top motion picture libraries and cutting-edge original programming on television, on demand and online, exclusively in HD and SD.

Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. But, according to a statement released by Suddenlink, there will be no changes to the recently announced rate adjustments for Suddenlink’s most-popular services; the company will absorb any difference and customers will have a choice about whether or not they want EPIX.

ANDERSON COUNTY — A 17-year-old was pronounced dead 10 minutes before midnight Friday after a one-vehicle wreck in Anderson County. Brandon Heath Miller, 17, of Tennessee Colony died when his 1999 Jeep Cherokee veered off the road, struck a metal post and caught fire, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The wreck occurred on FM 2054 north of Tennessee Colony. Miller was pronounced dead by Anderson County Justice of the Peace James Todd. His body was taken to Harrington Funeral Home in Palestine. The cause of the crash was under investigation

NACOGDOCHES — One man was arrested after a pursuit that, at times, reached more than 110 miles per hour while driving in the wrong lane of traffic down Highway 59 North at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Samuel Thompson, 21-year-old Colmesneil resident, was charged with evading arrest in a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated after he nearly hit two deputies head-on, Nacogdoches Constable Precinct 4 Jason Bridges said.

Thompson, driving a gold Saturn, was first clocked driving 98 miles per hour when Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Jimmy Marble attempted to stop the vehicle. According to the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel online, Thompson nearly hit both Marble and Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Curtis, who was transporting an inmate to the Nacogdoches County Jail at the time, and Marble continued the pursuit. Thompson nearly hit several other vehicles while continuing in the wrong lane of traffic into Angelina County, where Marble was able to get the vehicle stopped, Bridges said.

GILMER — Three Upshur County Officials, indicted on charges of official oppression and abuse of official capacity, have turned themselves into authorities. Released on their own personal recognizance were County Judge Dean Fowler, Sheriff Anthony Betterton and Precinct 3 Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree. The action comes after they ended public comment at commissioners court meetings and allegedly threw a man out for having duct tape over his mouth. Yesterday Upshur County Commissioners voted to return public comments to the courts agendas.

JACKSONVILLE — An East Texas Teacher resigns after indecent photos of her surfaced. Krystal Looney, 25, taught at Jacksonville High School up until the pictures surfaced on the internet during the Christmas break. Autumn Green, who says she was kicked off a cheerleading squad coached by Looney, posted the pictures online. KETK spoke with Green, who says she put the pictures of Looney on her facebook wall. Green tells us she did not realize Looney would lose her job. Looney did not want to comment, but other sources confirm the pictures were taken off and Looney resigned.

Superintendent Joe Wardell says, “All I can tell you is that we did have a teacher resign over Christmas break. We’re very limited by law as to what information we can give out about any kind of personnel issue.” Jacksonville’s employee standards of conduct says: “Employees shall be held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct.”

WHITEHOUSE — A 19-year-old East Texan gets one year in jail after sexting a minor. Matthew Bower, Whitehouse, was sentenced for sending a nude photo of himself to a 14-year-old girl. With more and more teens getting cell phones, some parents say it’s a problem. Experts say it’s important to set ground rules.

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have released the name of the woman found dead in a motel Thursday morning. She is said to be Bridget Jefferson, 37, of White Oak. Just before 8:00 yesterday morning, officers were dispatched to the Executive Inn and Suites 1900 block of East Marshall. Officers found Jefferson dead. An autopsy has been ordered. Officials said multiple people of interest were being sought in connection with the investigation, and investigators were studying video footage from security cameras in the area to determine who may have been in the room with the woman.

MARSHALL — A Marshall woman is arrested after leading authorities on a two-county chase. Taken into custody Tuesday afternoon was Lisa Shields, 46. The Department of Public Safety says state troopers tried to stop her car near the 611 mile marker on Interstate Highway 20 in Harrison County. It took officers 15 minutes before she was finally stopped near the 591 mile marker in Gregg County. At times her speed reached 130 miles an hour. She was booked into the Harrison County Jail on charges of evading arrest and reckless driving and her bond set at $9,000.

TYLER – Two persons have been arrested in connection with the robbery of an individual. It happened Wednesday afternoon in an apartment in the 4400 Block of Kinsey. The victim told officers he, his roommate and three or four other people were there playing video games. At some point the victim heard a visitors leave. He realized that they had taken some of his property which included his gun, his wallet and other personal property. He went outside and saw some of the visitors leave in a green Hyundai Elantra. Officers located the green Hyundai Elantra in the area and detained the occupants.

Investigators have confirmed their involvement in the robbery and recovered the weapon and some of the personal property. Arrested in the case were Benjamin White, 21, was was charged with aggravated robbery, and Rashad Williams, 20, who was charged with ggravated robbery and possession of a controlled substance.

TYLER — The Tyler Police Department and other Smith County law enforcement agencies will be out in force during the New Year holiday on the lookout for drunken drivers, and they won’t be taking “no” for an answer. Starting Thursday and continuing through Sunday, a multi-joint effort between the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and police agencies from all over Smith County will participate in the “No-Refusal” DWI Campaign once again. Upon the arrest of a suspected drunk driver, he or she will be asked if they would submit to blow into a breath-test machine or take a blood test. If the driver refuses, officers will obtain an immediate search warrant signed by a judge on call to have blood drawn by a nurse on staff at the Smith County Jail. The blood is then analyzed to determine whether the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 or higher, the legal limit for driving in Texas.

Tyler police say this program has proven to be an effective tool to combat drunken drivers. According to a police department news release, it is the intent of all law enforcement agencies that this effort will act as a deterrent, persuading people to avoid driving while intoxicated because they know that police officers will be conducting sobriety testing with or without driver’s consent. Simply put, according to police: “Please don’t drink and drive!”

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview are investigating a hit-and-run accident that happened Tuesday evening shortly after 10:15. Police say Khanh Vu, 52, of Longview walked eastbound across the 900 block of Pine Tree Road, failed to yield right of way, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle then fled the area without stopping to provide aid. Khanh Vu was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department.

GLADEWATER – Authorities are currently investigating reports of possible vandalism in Gladewater after five fire hydrants were found with broken caps. City Manager Sean Pate says city officials received emergency text notifications around 4:00 Wednesday morning. Officials originally thought it was due to a water main break, but on arrival, they suspected someone had broken five hydrants. Water levels dropped drastically in the northeast part of town but are now back up to a sustainable level. Officials estimate half a million gallons of water was lost. Pate asks citizens in the area to conserve water until further notice. The city has filed a report, and the Gladewater police are investigating the case.

TYLER — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert says caution is the byword as a Republican majority prepares for next year’s House session. Gohmert visited Wednesday with radio host Mark Steyn, subbing for Rush Limbaugh on KTBB. Gohmert said, “We’re right to be optimistic, but people can’t just put down their marching orders, they have got to continue pushing.” He cited the lame-duck passage of the tax extension bill, backed by many Republicans. Gohmert commented, “I was really shocked to hear people saying, on our side of the aisle, ‘We have to do this now, this is our best leverage.’” Gohmert says his party should have held out for a better option, remarking that Republicans should not have agreed to an additional 13 months of unemployment benefits.

LONGVIEW — Sheriff’s investigators and the Texas Rangers are investigating the early morning death of a woman who was in custody at the Gregg County Jail. Staff members found Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, of Gilmer unresponsive in a separation cell at the North facility before midnight Tuesday. Cowling was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center and was deceased on arrival. “Late Tuesday night, jailers discovered Cowling, and a team from the Medical Staff responded and immediately administered CPR to her,” Captain Mike Claxton said. Longview Fire Department paramedics were called to the facility at 12:22 a.m. and had picked up Cowling and arrived at the hospital trauma room by 12:39 a.m. Cowling had been in custody since December 24, 2010.

Sheriff’s procedure is that custodial death investigations are worked by the Rangers with assistance from Sheriff investigators. Judge B.H. Jameson ordered an autopsy examination be performed on Cowling at the Southeast Texas Forensic Center at Tyler. Authorities say it is likely that the results of that procedure will be learned in the coming days.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview arrest two suspects in a Tuesday night robbery. Shortly before 9:45, officers were called to the 2900 block of McCann Road. The victim, Michael Jackson, Jr., told police that his wallet, cell phone, and GPS were taken from him while he was held at gunpoint. Officers say they located the suspects as they were attempting to leave the area. Kayldon Kelly, 22, and Renauldo Smith, 24, of Longview were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.