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NACOGDOCHES — There’s a laundry list of charges against a Nacogdoches couple. Jodie Strahan, 26, and Norman McDonald, 47, are charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, and abandonment of a child. Nacogdoches police tell KETK the couple dropped a baby off Tuesday night in the Melrose community. Straham claimed she couldn’t raise the baby any longer, so she handed the baby over to a resident there. The baby was then taken to a local hospital. Authorities eventually tracked down the couple and arrested them.

NACOGDOCHES (AP) – An East Texas man convicted of using a machete to attack people after breaking into their homes has been sentenced to 75 years in prison. A jury in Nacogdoches sentenced Nijinksi Tywon Murphy, 36, over last July’s attacks that injured five people. The Nacogdoches man was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of burglary. Investigators say Murphy used a machete to attack people after going door to door in a neighborhood. Murphy testified he heard voices telling him the people he attacked were going to kill him. Records show Murphy has previous convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct, theft, criminal mischief and burglary.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman who failed to show at a Monday sentencing, has been arrested. Rachel Elaine Bradley, 40, has been arrested in Upshur County. Wednesday, Bradley was booked into the Gregg County Jail on four counts of bond forfeiture.

Bradley failed to appear at a hearing for her role in the December 2011 burglary of a storage unit containing Christmas gifts meant for area foster children. According to KETK, Rachel Elaine Bradley, 40, was scheduled to appear Monday afternoon in the 124th District Court to be sentenced by Judge Alfonso Charles.

Bradley’s attorney, Joe Black, told Charles his client was on her way to the hospital with chest pains. When the judge asked Black to which hospital Bradley was going, he said he did not know because her mother was taking her. When court was adjourned, the Longview Police Department issued warrants for Bradley’s arrest on three counts of bond forfeiture.

Bradley pleaded guilty April 4, to theft, burglary of a building, burglary of a habitation and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Gregg County District Attorney’s office. Officials with the Harrison County sheriff’s office have also named Bradley as one of two suspects in the theft of 59 manholes covers from Longview business parks, which were reported between April 20 and 23.

Police said Bradley, along with Sarah Marie Adams, 47, of Gilmer broke into the unit at Home Climate Storage in where they stole about $20,000 worth of Christmas gifts that belonged to the Gregg County Child Welfare Board.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council adopted a resolution initiating annexation proceedings for land located north of the northeast intersection of Spur 248 and County Road 272, authorizing creation of a service plan, and setting the dates, times and places for the two required public hearings to consider the annexation.

“This land is part of The Reserve Apartment Complex. The owner has asked for this remaining portion of the complex to be brought into the city limits,” said City Planner Heather Nick. “This would help address public safety concerns.”

According to State law, it is necessary to conduct two separate public hearings to consider the proposed approximately 2.13 acres lying adjacent to the present boundary limits of the City of Tyler. The City Council will conduct the first public hearing at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting to be held on May 22 at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers. The City Council will then hold a second public hearing at a Special Called City Council meeting to be held on June 5, at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers.

The Service Plan will be available for review in the Planning Department prior to the first public hearing. Final consideration of the Annexation Ordinance for the proposed annexation area would be considered by the City Council at its regularly scheduled City Council meeting on June 26.

JACKSONVILLE — A former ETMC-Jacksonville doctor who was discovered intoxicated and in possession of a shotgun in the hospital’s parking lot Wednesday morning was arrested and taken into custody by police, authorities said. Laurence William Cunningham, 57, a Jacksonville resident, is a pulmonary disease specialist, according to the Texas Medical Board website. According to KETK and the Jacksonville Daily Progress, Jacksonville Police Chief Reece Daniel said Cunningham was fired a day earlier after he is alleged to have made threats against another doctor of Middle Eastern descent. “The report says he thought the other doctor was happy about 9/11 and the Boston bombings and he didn’t like it,” Daniel said. “ … We are charging him with public intoxication and making terroristic threats.”

According to his TMB profile, Cunningham was convicted of Driving While Intoxicated in Tyler in November 2001. The doctor also was fined $500 by TMB in February 2008 for failing to correct inaccurate information in his correspondence and advertisements, the website shows. Cunningham was expected to spend the night in jail and be arraigned Thursday morning, the chief said. “That’s about the extent of what I can release at the moment,” Daniel said Wednesday afternoon. A spokeswoman for ETMC-Jacksonville declined to comment Wednesday afternoon.

GREGG COUNTY — Officials have identified the man killed in a wreck in Clarksville City as Jason Bradly Slaughter, 36, of Kaufman. According to KETK, the incident happened around 6:45 Wednesday morning when a White Oak police officer pulled a car over. Slaughter was said to be acting suspiciously when he took off. He eventually lost control of his vehicle at the intersection of Old Longview Highway (Highway 80) and Texas Street in Clarksville City. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police found what they believe to be meth in his car.

TYLER — Tyler’s sales tax revenues deposited for the month of May have grown 5.84% as compared to May 2012, resulting in a cumulative fiscal year-to-date increase of 3.39 percent. The Texas Comptroller reports Tyler’s revenue of $3,474,349 comprises $2,316,233 general sales tax revenue and $1,158,116 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from March 2013 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State. “It is nice to see this kind of an increase after disappointing collections in April,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “We are pleased that the three percent cumulative growth is on target with what was projected during our last budget process.”

TYLER — The City of Tyler Water Utilities Department is reminding citizens that Tyler remains under voluntary “Step One” Drought Contingency Measures as outlined in Article X (Water Conservation/Emergency Demand Management Plan) of the City of Tyler Code of Ordinances. “We are anticipating a possible dry summer; therefore are encouraging residents to be aware of their water use and to conserve as possible,” said Water Utilities Managing Director Greg Morgan.

Under Step One modified drought measures, recommended watering schedules are voluntary and are as follows:
· For customers with street addresses ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, 7), limit irrigation of landscaped areas to Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
· For water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) limit irrigation of landscaped area to Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.
· Additionally, irrigation should be done between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am.

Additional steps that the City will take under “Step One” include expedited repair of water line breaks, reducing flushing of water mains and discontinuing fire hydrant testing.

The City of Tyler is in better shape than other municipalities and water districts in the northeast Texas region at this time, according to officials. The Lake Tyler system is down 3.49 feet but is at 79.4% capacity. Lake Palestine is only down .21 feet and at 98.9% of capacity.

LONGVIEW — The City of Longview announces temporary street closures in the downtown area during the annual AlleyFest event, which will be held May 10 – 12, in downtown Longview. Street closures will be done in phases in preparation for the event.

Streets closed from 6:00pm, Wednesday, May 8 until 6:00pm, Sunday, May 12:
• Fredonia Street from Tyler Street to Hoover Street in both directions.
• Fredonia Street southbound lane from Whaley Street to Hoover Street.

Streets closed from 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 9 until 6:00pm, Sunday, May 12:
• Tyler Street from Center Street to Fredonia Street
• Center Street from Tyler Street to Methvin Street

Streets closed from 3:00pm, Friday, May 10 until 6:00pm, Sunday, May 12:
• Methvin Street from Center Street to just east of Fredonia Street in front of the Post Office.

AlleyFest is coordinated by One Hundred Acres of Heritage Main Street. Described as a “Real East Texas Celebration of the Arts,” AlleyFest features activities including Alley Art, Alley Run, Kids Fest, Music Fest, Car Show, and Food Fest. Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of activities throughout the weekend. For more information about the event, visit http://www.AlleyFest.org or call 903-237-4000.

LONGVIEW — More details were issued Wednesday afternoon on a shooting incident in Longview Tuesday afternoon just before 1:30, Longview Police Officers received several calls about a shooting that had just occurred. Police were notified that two men had been taken by private cars to Good Shepherd Medical Center. When officers arrived at Good Shepherd, they located both male victims.

According to statements made, Officers were able to determine that the shooting occurred in the 1200 Block of Lorin Drive. Reports received from both men and other witnesses indicated that the victims, identified as Christian Sibley, 19 and Rashaad McCray 20, both of Longview, were involved in an altercation inside the residence at the location. Both men allegedly produced weapons and began firing their guns at each other, and police say both were shot during the exchange. Sibley was placed under arrest. Police say while being escorted to a waiting patrol car, he broke free from police and attempted to escape custody. Police say he was located approximately 5 blocks from Good Shepherd and taken back into custody with no further incident.

Sibley was transported to Gregg County Jail and charged with Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon and Escape from Custody, both of which are Class A misdemeanors. McCray was treated and released from the hospital. The investigation into the shooting continues.

LINDALE — Smith County authorities are investigating an early Wednesday morning house fire in the Lindale area. More details are awaited, but video from the scene indicates extensive damage. KETK reports the fire happened in the 10000 block of County Road 494 just after 5:00am. There was nobody at home at the time, and there were no injuries.

MARSHALL — A former pastor arrested in May 2012 and accused of online solicitation of a minor is set to stand trial this month. According to Harrison County Criminal District Attorney Coke Solomon, the trial for Raymond Earl Cooper is scheduled to begin the week of May 20. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the ex-pastor was placed on leave from the First Church of the Nazarene in Marshall following his arrest. At the time of Cooper’s arrest, Rob McDonald, district superintendent for the Church of Nazarene, said church officials consider the allegations “tragic.” McDonald said church officials would conduct their own investigation.

Cooper was arrested for allegedly soliciting a person online that he believed to be 14 years old. A warrant was issued for his arrest after the Louisiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children Task Force out of Lafayette, La., alerted the Marshall Police Department and the Texas Rangers of the activity. According to the complaint filed by Texas Ranger Jason Dudley, Hall Hutchison, a trooper with the Louisiana task force, contacted Texas authorities on April 23, saying that Cooper had exposed himself on a webcam to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

MT. PLEASANT — A 14-year-old East Texas girl endured what police called a terrifying experience after being abducted Sunday. Mount Pleasant Police Chief Wayne Isbell said Tuesday that during de-briefing of Ruby Zavala after her Monday rescue, it became clear the teenager was terrorized by the suspect in her abduction, Jesus Resendez Ramirez, 23. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Isbell said the girl was forced to plead for her life several times, convincing her captor not to harm her. She was held hostage with a knife to her throat as she and her mother and little sister were forced into her family’s pickup as they left church Sunday. Police say Ramirez later freed mother Maria Zavala and her 3-year-old daughter but kept Ruby Zavala as his captive.

Police have said Ramirez was obsessed with the girl, whom he had been forbidden to see. The two dated for awhile and broke up, police said, without the knowledge of Zavala’s parents. When they became aware of it, the parents made a report to the Titus County Sheriff’s Office. Ramirez was released from Terrell State Hospital, a psychiatric facility, about a week before the abduction. After his release, police said, the girl’s parents had been so concerned about her welfare that they asked Mount Pleasant ISD campus police to watch Ruby to make sure the seventh grader got on the school bus safely.

Isbell said Tuesday that Ramirez was being held without bond. Isbell said the girl exhibited remarkable strength enduring the abduction. Late Tuesday, her parents, Santiago and Maria Zavala, issued a statement thanking local law enforcement officers and the community for their support during the ordeal.

CANTON — Disturbing details have begun to surface about the murder of a Greenville teenager. According to sources, it appears 16-year old Alicia Moore had been sexually assaulted, and that DNA from that assault led investigators to her uncle. Michael Moore, 57, was arrested at his home exactly six months after the teenager’s body was discovered.

The girl was last seen in Greenville, her body was found in Van Zandt County, and Moore lives in Grand Prairie. Van Zandt County Sheriff Lindsey Ray says for the time being, his county has the crime scene. Ray says it took a long time to pull all the facts together. He says his office tries to work as quickly as it can on such cases, all the while being methodical, logical, and certain the right suspect is being pursued. Moore is being held on $10 million bond. Sources say he did not appear surprised when he was arrested.

VAN — One person is in custody in connection with a stabbing death in Van. Arrested late Monday night was Delano Garcia, 48. He has been charged with the stabbing death of Jesse Lee Hudspeth of Wills Point. Garcia is being held on a $1 million.

Van police and DPS responded after police got a 911 call just before 10:30 Monday morning. Someone was said to be lying in the road after an apparent stabbing near Ohio Street and North Bois D’ Arc Street. The victim died from a stab wound to the chest, according to Van Police Chief Tony Richardson.

ATHENS — Two men have been injured in an explosion and fire that extensively damaged a Henderson County home. The fire was reported late Monday night in the home at Cherokee Shores. The two men have been flown to the burn unit at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

TEXARKANA (AP) — A production company owned by television psychologist Dr. Phil has filed a federal lawsuit in Texas claiming improper use of an interview he conducted with the man who perpetrated a hoax on former Notre Dame football star Manti Te’o.

Texas-based Peteski Productions is claiming in the suit filed Monday that Gawker Media committed copyright infringement by airing portions of Phil McGraw’s interview with Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. The 22-year-old Tuiasosopo has said he created the online persona of Lennay Kekua, a nonexistent woman whom Te’o said he fell in love with despite never meeting her in person.

The suit claims one of Gawker’s properties, the sports blog Deadspin, aired part of the interview before a February broadcast of “Dr. Phil.”

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department has recovered several stolen items, including one taken sixteen months ago. That’s when a Tyler church congregation lost a $7,000 barbecue pit to theft. On May 1, acting on a tip, Detective James Riggle and other Sheriff’s Office personnel investigated a barbecue pit for sale in North Tyler that matched the description of the one taken from the church on January 9, 2012. Officials said late Tuesday afternoon that the pit was in the process of being returned to the congregation. The case is under investigation.

Elsewhere, several stolen lawn equipment items have been recovered from a residence in northern Smith County during a search for an individual. Sheriff’s Office deputies were at the residence on an outstanding warrant searching for Jeremy Silva, 22. Silva (pictured) was not at the location, but while there, deputies discovered several pieces of stolen lawn equipment, according to authorities. After receiving a search warrant, deputies recovered seven items connected to theft cases dating back to October 2012. The following day, Silva was located and another piece of equipment was recovered and released to the owner. Silva is currently in the Smith County Jail on an unrelated charge. Other charges are pending.

QUITMAN — A Gilmer man has been sentenced to life in prison for the aggravated sexual assault of a child. On April 16, Robert Karl Nunley, 47, pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges and waived a jury trial. KETK reports Nunley also waived his right to an appeal. During sentencing in Wood County, Nunley was also assessed 20 years for indecency with a child.

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank has been selected as one of 40 winning Feeding America food banks to receive a $45,000 grant from Walmart’s Fighting Hunger Together initiative. “Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for the East Texas Food Bank. We truly appreciate East Texans’ support and the ongoing generosity of Walmart,” said Dennis Cullinane, executive director of the East Texas Food Bank. “These grant funds will be used to expand the East Texas Food Bank’s BackPack Program.” Visit http://www.walmart.com/hunger and http://www.EastTexasFoodBank.org to learn more.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is facing new charges after failing to show at a Monday sentencing for her role in the December 2011 burglary of a storage unit containing Christmas gifts meant for area foster children. According to KETK, Rachel Elaine Bradley, 40, was scheduled to appear at 2:45 p.m. in the 124th District Court to be sentenced by Judge Alfonso Charles.

Bradley’s attorney, Joe Black, told Charles his client was on her way to the hospital with chest pains. When the judge asked Black to which hospital Bradley was going, he said he did not know because her mother was taking her. When court was adjourned, the Longview Police Department issued warrants for Bradley’s arrest on three counts of bond forfeiture.

Bradley pleaded guilty April 4, to theft, burglary of a building, burglary of a habitation and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Gregg County District Attorney’s office. Officials with the Harrison County sheriff’s office have also named Bradley as one of two suspects in the theft of 59 manholes covers from Longview business parks, which were reported between April 20 and 23.

Police said Bradley, along with Sarah Marie Adams, 47, of Gilmer broke into the unit at Home Climate Storage in where they stole about $20,000 worth of Christmas gifts that belonged to the Gregg County Child Welfare Board.

TYLER — A Tyler home has been destroyed by fire. It was reported around 8:00 Monday night in the 1000 block of Britton Avenue. At one point, smoke and flames billowed high into the air. Occupants were at home at the time of the fire, but escaped uninjured, according to authorities. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

HILLSBORO (AP) — A body found over the weekend in northern Hill County has been identified as a 23-year-old former East Texas Baptist University student who had been missing for about a week.

The Hill County sheriff’s office said in a news release the body of Kasie Clary of Hillsboro was found Saturday. Clary had been missing since April 28.

Justice of the Peace Charles Jones of Hill County said Monday morning that a cause of death has not yet been determined. The Dallas County medical examiner’s office identified the body Sunday.

Investigators with the Hillsboro police and Hill County sheriff’s office are investigating.

GILMER — An appeals court in Texarkana has upheld the guilty verdict and sentence of an Upshur County man in the shooting death of his sister. The 6th Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Glenn Wade Myers Jr., 56, of Big Sandy. Last June Myers was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the shooting death of Cindy Espinosa, 52. Authorities say Myers became upset when Espinosa asked him to pay for repairs to a water well located on their shared property. He is said to have grabbed a shotgun and shot her in the face.

AUSTIN — Governor Rick Perry has appointed 10 student regents to their respective university systems, and one student representative to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for terms effective June 1, 2013, and expiring May 31, 2014. Named to the Stephen F. Austin State University board was Matthew Logan, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration.

AUSTIN — A proposal that will let concealed handgun license holders renew their license over the Internet moved past the Texas House Monday. House Bill 48 is by Representative Dan Flynn from Van, who says lawmakers are just trying to make it more convenient. He says the bill “establishes a streamlined CHL renewal program by allowing all licensed holders in good standing to renew their license online or by mail on or before the expiration date.” Williamson County Representative Larry Gonzalez pointed out the measure allows deployed service members the chance to renew their license. The proposal will now go before the Senate.

VAN — A man has died in a stabbing in Van, and the suspect is still at large. According to KETK, Van police and DPS responded after police got a 911 call just before 10:30 Monday morning. Someone was said to be lying in the road after an apparent stabbing near Ohio Street and North Bois D’ Arc Street. The victim died from a stab wound to the chest, according to Van Police Chief Tony Richardson.

Because initial reports said that gunshots were heard, the schools were locked down. However, Chief Richardson said that police were questioning several people, and that he does not believe the public is in any imminent danger. The victim, whose name was not immediately released, is a white man believed to be in his 40s. Announcement of a person of interest was pending.

JACKSONVILLE — A work-related accident has left a Cherokee County man dead. It occurred around 10:00 Monday morning at the Longview Asphalt Plant, Jacksonville Division, off County Road 3302, just outside of Jacksonville. Found dead inside a silo type structure was James Anthony Lucus, 42. His body has been taken to Tyler Forensics Lab for autopsy. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the death.

MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) – An Amber Alert for a 14-year-old East Texas girl allegedly abducted by her ex-boyfriend has been canceled after she was found and rescued. Mount Pleasant police Chief Wayne Isbell said Monday that 23-year-old Jesus Ramirez was obsessed with the girl he secretly dated. Authorities say Ramirez is in custody and the girl is safe. Police say Ramirez abducted the teen, her 4-year-old sister, and their mother from outside church Sunday afternoon. The mother and sister were freed unharmed. The vehicle Ramirez was driving was recovered after being wrecked just before 5 p.m. Sunday on a county road just west of Mount Pleasant. Isbell says Ramirez was charged with sexual assault of a child after the girl’s family learned the two had a relationship and forced them to break up.

HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are warning citizens of a new scam via phone and mail. According to KETK, people are receiving calls and letters telling them they have won money when they have not. Authorities are saying to remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.