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Murder-suicide in Smith County
Owentown 7/9 - A tragic scene this morning Owentown, near Winona. Smith County authorities were first called to the scene of home by a man who said his stepson had called him, asked him to come to the house and pick up a child. Once there, the man found a note asking him to call 9-1-1. When authorities arrived, they found Fernando Alvarado and his wife dead in the shop behind the home. Smith County deputies say Alvarado beat his wife to death with a baseball bat and then hung himself. The investigation is ongoing but authorities suspect the couple was going through a divorce. Alvarado was a paramedic for many years with Champion EMS in Lindale. Both bodies have been sent to Southwest Forensics in Tyler for autopsies.

Big Catfish Splash this weekend on Fork
Lake Fork 7/7 - Hundreds of anglers are expected to turn out this weekend at the fifth annual Big Catfish Splash, hosted by the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce. Fishermen will compete for their share of $60,000 in cash and prizes. The tournament will kick off on Saturday and run through Sunday afternoon, following registration on Friday. The city of Yantis is also hosting a parade to celebrate the event. Tune in as KMOO will, once again, be the only station providing live updates, three times an hour during the tournament.

Inmate recaptured in Sheriff's office truck
Van Zandt County 7/3 - After a two-hour man hunt, East Texas authorities have captured an escaped inmate. Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnet said the inmate was showing deputies places he had burglarized, when he saw a chance to escape. The inmate, still in handcuffs, climbed over the back seat and fled in an unmarked pick-up truck. Deputies caught up with the inmate, two hours later and re-arrested the man

Skeeter Owners Tournament Results
Lake Fork 6/22 -Richard Meyer from Belton, won this weekend's 15th Annual Skeeter Owners Big Bass Tournament on Lake Fork with a 10.88 lb bass caught on Saturday.

Storms bring high winds and heavy rain
Winnsboro 6/17 - Thunderstorms brought heavy rain and strong winds to East Texas Tuesday afternoon. The storms moved across the area just after noon, downing tree limbs, causing car accidents and even flooding some city streets. The heaviest rain was reported near Winnsboro where rain rushed several inches deep along Main and Elm Street. Wind gusts caused a tree to fall across SH-37 just north of Winnsboro, blocking the road and backing up traffic for several minutes while fire crews cleared the debris. Water was also reported over SH-19, north of Emory. At least one person was temporarily trapped in a vehicle after a tree fell on the car. Large hail was also reported in Smith County as the storms moved southeast.

170 show up for Lake Fork plant program
Lake Fork 6/13 - More than 170 people, some with plants samples in hand, showed up last night to hear about the vegetation growing in Lake Fork. Lake residents, business owners and anglers filled the meeting room at the Land’s End Volunteer Fire Department, forcing several to stand at the back, while representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Sabine River Authority (SRA) told about their efforts to control invasive weeds.
    After a brief introduction by Michael Rogge, president of the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association, the organization which hosted the meeting, Rogge introduced the experts on aquatic vegetation.
    “The last plant survey was conducted in the summer of 2007,” said Kevin Storey with the TPWD. He, along with Howard Elder, an aquatic habitat biologist with the TPWD, displayed photos of invasive weeds, including Hydrilla and Alligator weed, and showed maps indicating where on the lake the weeds had been found.
    There were audible gasps in the audience when Storey described Hydrilla as a “beneficial” plant even though it is also considered invasive. Most local residents consider the plant to be “taking over” in some areas of the lake near their homes. Storey also noted that American Lotus and Pennywort could also be a problem at times. After the meeting, Elder said the largest threat at the moment was probably Water Hyacinth, which he said could pose an even larger threat if left untreated.
    During the meeting, Elder also explained the process by which TPWD applies herbicides to areas of invasive vegetation and noted that which treatments typically occurred on a regular basis, over the past three years, it had become extremely difficult to treat many areas of the lake due to the low water levels caused by the recent drought.
    Elder explained how residents could treat areas on their own private property by filling a formal proposal with TPWD. The SRA’s Bill Kirby said his office, located on the lake, could assist residents in completing the proper forms.
    Elder also explained how his office is attempting to use beetles to help control vegetation on the lake by harvesting specific types of bugs and relocating them to Lake Fork. Elder said the bugs, also called “bio control”, is generally cheaper and more effective over the long term than chemical treatments. In response to a question about how quickly the beetles could help, he noted, “it could take years.”
    The speakers also emphasized the need for residents to be on the look out for new, invasive species cropping up on the lake. “Have you seen this plant?” screamed the headline from a brochure handed out by Kirby. The flyer, which has been posted as several local marinas, warns of the dangers of Giant Salvinia.
Rogge told audience that fighting invasive plants like Giant Salvinia and other while maintaining beneficial natives was important for anglers and residents alike, and thanks all those in attendance.

Accident claims life near Lake Fork
Yantis 6/03 - Under clear blue skies, just a few yards from a white cross marking the site of another fatality accident, firefighters directed traffic as wrecker crews pulled the remains of a white pickup onto a tow truck. Moments earlier, fire crews and paramedics had worked to safe the life of a 10-year-old child who was a passenger in the truck when it ran off FM-514 and into a tree. The child was flown by helicopter from the scene to a hospital. DPS officers said the driver, unfortunately, did not did not survive accident. The accident happened just after 12 noon, when the truck was traveling west on FM-514. By the marks on the roadway, it appeared the driver ran off the road, over-corrected and then struck a tree. Traffic on the road was blocked for more than two hours while crews worked at the scene. The names of the victims have not been released although people at the scene said they were from the local area.

Canton Senior drowns after picnic
Canton 5/30 - Tragedy strikes this afternoon in Canton as a high school senior drowns. A local official says three senior boys left the official senior picnic held earlier this afternoon to go swimming on their own at Canton’s New City Lake. While there one of the boys, identified as Daniel Perez, went under the water. Rescue divers located Perez’ body nearly 40 minutes later. He was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Pct 1 Don Kirkpatrick. Police say the investigation is ongoing. Canton’s graduation is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Four missing in Sabine River bottom
Mineola 5/26 - Mineola fire fighters and Wood County game wardens spent last night looking for a three adults and a child who got lost in the Sabine River bottom Memorial Day. Authorities began searching an area east of US-69 and just north of the Sabine River in Wood County around 10:30 last night. Searchers were able to communicate with the lost group by telephone and used the lights and sirens of fire trucks to help direct those missing to an area where they could be rescued. An East Texas Medical Center helicopter located the group just before midnight. They were then able evacuate the group to a command post set up on FM-1804. No word yet on how the group got lost or if they suffered any injuries.

Major damage reported in Winnsboro
Winnsboro 5/15 - Trees several feet in diameter were uprooted and debris scattered the roads as a possible tornado touched down in northeast Wood County just before 1 a.m. this morning. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for northeast Wood County at 12:45 this morning. The alert woke up Rick Brown’s wife and she hustled the them and their dogs into a linen closet, with just seconds to spare.
   "We heard a thump," said Rick Brown, standing next to the thee which had toppled onto the roof of his home during the morning's storms. Audio (See photo at left)
   Across town, Renee, whose husband is also a fire fighter, said they woke to the sound of wind.
   "My husband handed me my daughter and a tree came through our bedroom ceiling. He pushed me out of the way." She then added, "He saved my life." Audio
   Driving around Winnsboro this morning, it was hard not to find a street without at least some trees or limbs down. Most roads and yards were covered with bits of green blown off trees and bushes. A half a dozen trees taller than 30 feet were knocked over like toys in the elementary school playground.
   Thousands of customers were without power following the storms and fire fighters from at least four departments combed the area for more damage for the rest of the night. They found a home at South Chestnut and Carnegie in Winnsboro with a tree across the roof.
   Amazingly, no injuries were reported in connection with the storms.
   Yantis and Como-Pickton school districts closed their doors for the day due to power outages and storm damage in the communities. Winnsboro has announced a 2-hour delay, and began classes at 10 a.m. For more photos, click here.

Five departments called out to battle fire
Mineola 5/14 - Fire destroyed a large home in Wood County this morning. It was about 9:45 when electric company workers noticed smoke coming from the home in a private subdivision, east of Mineola. By the time fire crews arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames. The owners reportedly live in the Dallas area and were not home at the time the fire began. Fire crews from five departments battled the blaze. Crews are still on the scene at this hour trying to bring what’s left of the fire under control.
For more photos, click here.

Local Lindale landmark gutted by fire
Lindale 5/7 - Fire fighters from four departments responded to a fire at the Donut Palace in downtown Lindale Wednesday. Highway 69 was closed for more than an hour while crews stretched water hoses across the road. After beating back the flames, fire fighters then began the process of pealing back portions of the building and hosing down the insulation on fire inside the walls. No one was inside the building at the time of the fire.

Prosecution seeks death penalty in 2 cases
Mineola 5/5 - Rains County Prosecutors will be seeking the death penalty for two of the four suspects charged with killing a mother and her two sons earlier this year. During an arraignment hearing today, Charles Waid and Charlie Wilkinson both pled not guilty to charges they shot and stabbed the Caffey family as they slept in their home. Waid's girlfriend is also charged in the case. She pled not guilty as well and prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty in her case. Attorneys could not comment further due to a court-imposed gag order.

Driver slightly injured in roll-over
Mineola 5/5 - Fire fighters from Mineola rolled out of bed early Sunday for a one-vehicle accident on Highway 69. The accident happened just after 8 a.m. yesterday, about 3 miles north of Mineola on US-69. The driver of the vehicle was standing near the roadway when fire fighters arrived, reportedly suffering only minor injuries. The driver, who ran off the road and rolled his car into the trees about 50 feet from the road, apparently crawled out the vehicle through the shattered rear window. He was taken to a local hospital.

18-wheeler runs off I-20 and burns
Lindale 5/1 - "It was a miracle." That has one first responder on the scene described the accident in Lindale this afternoon and the fact that two people were pulled from a burning 18-wheeler, alive. The 18-wheeler, loaded with cantaloupe and other produce, was headed westbound on I-20 when it ran off the roadway and down an embankment between the Hwy 69 overpass. The truck was stopped by a shoulder barricade on Hwy 69, where it then caught fire. The truck’s driver and a female passenger were pulled from the cab before it was engulfed in flame. Both are said to be in stable condition in a Tyler hospital. Fire crews worked for more than two hours trying to clean up the wreck and move the truck onto a wrecker.
(Click on audio link above for excerpt of interview with Judge James "Red" Cowart")

Statewide manhunt for Tyler man
Tyler 4/30 - Police across the state are searching for a 37-year-old Tyler man who they say shot and killed a Department of Public Safety Trooper overnight. Brandon Wayne Robertson is suspected in the shooting death of Trooper in Marion County last night. Authorities say the trooper pursued Robertson until he finally pulled over. A short time later, dispatchers received a radio call from a citizen using the trooper's radio saying the officer had been shot. Robertson was last seen driving a blue Dodge Intrepid with license plate number O39-LCG. Anyone with information about Robertson or the vehicle is asked to dial 911 immediately. (Photo: Brandon Wayne Robertson)

Defense rests in Johnson murder trial
Quitman 4/24 -Attorneys are now preparing their closing arguments after the defense rested on Thursday in the trial of William Burnard Kear. Kear is being tried in the 2006 shooting death of Norman Johnson. The prosecution rested at the end of the Wednesday, but earlier, District Attorney Jim Wheeler played a recording of Kerr admitting he had killed Johnson. The recording was made when Kear testified before a grand Jury in November of 2006. The jury heard a similar admission by Kear on Tuesday when Wheeler played a 911 recording. On it, Kear said he had shot Johnson but did it in self-defense.
On Thursday, defense attorneys began the day by playing a recording made by then Deputy Terry Bevill at the scene on the day of the shooting. On it, Kear told Bevill Johnson tried to kill him with a tractor and that he shot Johnson. The defense also brought a parade of witnesses before the jury, each one testifying to Kear's "peaceable" reputation.
The case has been recessed until Monday morning and will resume at a 10 a.m. when attorneys from both sides are expected to make their closing statements.

Bass Classic Updates Here!^UPDATED!

Live scores from The Toyota Texas Bass Classic

Van Zandt ESD #2 to pay board members
Grand Saline 4/15 -Van Zandt County’s Emergency Services District in the Grand Saline area has voted to pay itself for time working for the district. The board met yesterday in Grand Saline and voted 3-2 to pay board members $50 each, for every day a board member has duties for the Emergency Services District. The first checks issued will include payments retroactive to 2007. Board Secretary Mary Ann Fisher made the motion saying that serving on the board was “definitely work.” She added that other expenses related to board activities also added up including gasoline.
    Two board members, John Teague and Harry Clifford, said they would rather have the money go to the fire department instead of their pockets.
    “I just don’t think it’s right to pay board members when we haven’t funded the fire department,” said Teague after the meeting. He and Clifford told Fisher to give their checks to the fire department and ambulance service. Teague also asked about retroactive funding for the fire department.
    “If you are going to go back and pay the board for 2007, are you going to go back and pay fire department bills for 2007,” asked Teague. “Well, put it on the agenda and lets discuss it,” replied Fisher. The board had previously declined to pay the department’s bills because the district had not collected any tax revenues.
    The board is paying some of the department’s bills now. Last night the group approved several bills submitted by the Grand Saline Volunteer Fire Department. Fisher requested the board not pay a receipt for a hot water tank the department replaced at the fire station.
    “Doesn’t the city own the building?” asked Fisher, directing her question to City Administrator Stephen Ashley. “The city should maintain the property.” Ashley said the city owns the building but does not charge the fire department rent. “They’ve always taken care of problems themselves, at their expense,” he added.
   Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night came during the first 10 minutes of the meeting when the board elected Harry Clifford its new president. Clifford immediately declined the position and the board then voted to make Teague president. Teague, who has served as president of the Grand Saline School, accepted the position. Doyle Millirons served as the board’s president until January, when county commissioners reappointed three members to the board, requiring officers to again be elected.
The board agreed to meet again next Thursday for a workshop on board procedures.

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