Smith County

Police arrested Royce Dewayne Allen, 32, this morning. Allen also had an outstanding warrant for non-payment of child support.

According to Tyler Police Department public information officer Don Martin, investigators received information early this morning that led them to Allen’s identity and location.

Allen was arrested for aggravated robbery, a first degree felony, and the release said he will be charged a second time tomorrow. He is accused of robbing two women on separate occasions outside ETMC in Tyler, the second of which allegedly occurred earlier this week and the woman was cut with a knife while he stole her purse.

He is currently in Smith County Jail on a $300,000 bond.

My Fox Atlanta

At Atlanta pizzeria is receiving both cheers — and jeers — for the notice it recently printed on its menus asking parents of noisy children to take their kids outside.

After Donnie Parmer, co-owner of Grant Central Pizza, got an abundance of complaints (both in person and on the review site Yelp) about screaming or unruly children in his restaurant, he added the following notice to the bottom of his menus:

Dear all present and future patrons: GCP is proud of its reputation as a family restaurant, a title that we will work to keep. Unfortunately a number of our diners have posted unpleasant experiences because of crying and unsupervised children. To ensure that all diners have an enjoyable lunch or dinner with us we respectfully ask that parents tend to their crying tots outside.”

Parmer says that while he likes kids and Grant Central Pizza is a family establishment, it’s not fair for little ones to disrupt the entire dining room. He cites an incident in which a child hit an adult patron in the head with a toy as the last straw that made him print the public notice.

While some parents are offended, saying “noise is just part of the experience in a family restaurant,” other customers applauded the gesture and said it’ll make them more likely to visit the restaurant.

[My Fox Atlanta]

Courtesy of Curb Records

Hank Williams Jr. fans new and old will garner great appreciation for a new 22-track greatest hits album that will hit stores next month.

The retrospective collection, titled ‘Best of Hank Williams Jr. (All My Rowdy Friends),’ will be released by Nashville’s Curb Records and will feature the biggest and most memorable hits of Hank Jr.’s career, including ‘Family Tradition,’ ‘A Country Boy Can Survive,’ ‘Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound,’ and of course, ‘All My Rowdy Friends Are Comin’ Over Tonight.’

The album will also feature the duet rendition Bocephus sang with the vocal track of his late and legendary father, Hank Williams, on the classic hit ‘There’s a Tear in My Beer.’ Other guest appearances on the collection of songs include Rehab, who lend their talents to Hank’s ‘Bartender Song (Sittin’ at the Bar).’

‘Best of Hank Williams Jr. (All My Rowdy Friends)’ will be released on Tuesday, March 27, exclusively at Walmart.

‘Best of Hank Williams Jr. (All My Rowdy Friends)’ Track Listing:

1. ‘Family Tradition’
2. ‘Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound’
3. ‘Women I’ve Never Had’
4. ‘Outlaw Women’
5. ‘Kaw-Liga’
6. ‘Old Habits’
7. ‘Dinosaur’
8. ‘The Blues Man’
9. ‘Texas Women’
10. ‘Dixie On My Mind’
11. ‘All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)’
12. ‘A Country Boy Can Survive’
13. ‘If Heaven Ain’t a Lot Like Dixie’
14. ‘The Conversation’
15. ‘All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight’
16. ‘Country State of Mind’
17. ‘Born to Boogie’
18. ‘If the South Woulda Won’
19. ‘There’s a Tear in My Beer’ (with Hank Williams)
20. ‘Red, White, and Pink-Slip Blues’
21. ‘Bartender Song (Sittin’ at the Bar)’ (with Rehab)
22. ‘All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming for Monday Night Football’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

YouTube

Just days before her new single ‘Good Girl’ is scheduled to be officially released, Carrie Underwood has given fans a sample of the until now unheard track from her upcoming fourth studio album. In a video released on her official website on Tuesday, Underwood takes fans inside the studio.

“I thought I’d give you guys a little teaser, cause hey, what are they gonna do to me?” the blonde country superstar asks before swinging the mixing room door open, releasing a flood of uptempo country goodness. The song seems cut from the mold of ‘Before He Cheats’ or ‘Undo It.’ It’s the bad girl Underwood that fans will hear from first.

“I cannot wait for you to hear the whole thing. It will be coming to a radio near you very soon. I hope you like it.” The still-untitled album is due in stores May 1.

Underwood’s website says the song will be released on Feb. 23. In fact, there is a ‘Good Girl’ countdown that is pecking away the seconds to midnight ET. It may be a very late night for the singer’s most loyal fans.

Watch Carrie Underwood’s Sneak Peek of her New Song ‘Good Girl’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

I’ve been on the National Bone Marrow registry for 14 years now. So far, I’ve never been considered a match for someone, but you never know. It’s easy to register and you just might save someone’s life someday. I came across this story this morning and I thought I would share it with you.

Over the last three months, life has changed drastically for Cody Chandler, a Tyler doctor diagnosed with leukemia just after Thanksgiving. Chandler is a young father, husband and doctor. He describes himself as being “pretty healthy” before he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in November.

Chandler’s leukemia is under remission at the moment and he is still continuing with chemotherapy. But if Chandler were to relapse, he would need to have a bone marrow transplant.

Heart to Heart Hospice has set up a Bone Marrow registration drive for today from 1 to 6pm. Like me, they want to educate and encourage others to consider being  on the National Bone Marrow registry. Heart to Heart Hospice is at 1402 Rice Road in Tyler.

To join the registry, it only takes someone 15 seconds to swab your cheek and a few minutes to fill out some paperwork. It’s easier then you think. You may never be called to donate or you may, but just think of the blessing you could be to someone who’s life depends on donors like you!

It took jurors less than an hour Tuesday to convict Jeffery Allan Maxwell, 59 on the two counts of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.

Maxwell faces up to life in prison.

Rains County Woman Guilty of Firearms Violation

TYLER, Texas - A 53-year-old Emory, Texas woman pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Margaret Lanette Gunter pleaded guilty on Feb. 21, 2012, to engaging in the business of selling firearms without a federal firearms license before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

Information presented in court , revealed more than one hundred weapons, as well as a large amount of ammunition, were recovered.  Gunter admitted to assisting a co-defendant who was selling firearms at public markets in Quinlan, Texas and at the First Monday Trade Fair in Canton, Texas.

Gunter faces up to 5 years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.

by nateOne,flickr

Road Closure Advisory

TYLER - Smith County Road and Bridge Crews have temporarily closed a portion of County Road 132 in the Flint-Gresham area for maintenance. Details on when the County Road will reopen to the public will be made available as soon as possible. Motorist are being asked to find an alternative route.

Longview Police Dept.

Coffee with a Cop

LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Dept. will host their first “Coffee with a Cop” program Thursday night.

Longview Police Chief Don Dingler says the new outreach program will give citizens a chance to sit down with local officers and ask questions about the law and neighborhood issues.

The first meeting will be held at Chick-fil-A located at Gilmer Road and Loop 281 at 7:00 to 9:00am on Thursday February 23^rd.

East Texan Guilty of Federal Drug Charges

TYLER - A Carthage Woman has pleaded guilty to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to information presented in Federal Court in Tyler, 31 year old Christine Stephens Carroll purchased cold pills containing 2.40 grams of pseudoephedrine from a Brookshire Bros. store in Carthage. Carroll also admitted to purchasing cold pills on 64 different occasions from Oct. 22, 2008 to Apr. 15, 2010, which amounted to approximately 137.78 grams of pseudoephedrine, with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

Carroll faces up to 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Man Formally Declared Innocent of Murder

DALLAS — A state district judge will formally declare a Dallas man innocent of murder and attempted murder after he spent 14 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Richard Miles has been free on his own recognizance since a judge recommended that he be declared innocent in 2009.

Texas Weather Attracting Bats

AUSTIN — A biologist says recent mild winters may eventually attract vampire bats to parts of South Texas. The animals live in South and Central America and Mexico and could resettle in Texas in the next 50 years, causing headaches to ranchers.

Man Formally Declared Innocent of Murder

BEAUMONT – A 27-year-old Beaumont man has pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender. Bernard Vertral Jackson lived in a trailer park in Beaumont from Jan. 31, 2011, to April 20, 2011, without registering as a sex offender.

Jackson had previously been convicted of sodomy in 2001, in San Bernardino, California.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

“The Voice” coach Blake Shelton has played a role teaching and listening to plenty of talent on the hit reality singing show. And he takes his role personally — even to the point of calling out a critic on Twitter.

Shelton and Twitter user @JKxZ exchanged some heated words over the social network Tuesday night involving contestants on “The Voice” previously having recording contracts.

It even got to the point where Shelton announced to his 1.1 million followers: “Hey @JKxZ … It’s not that I don’t see your point. It’s just that I simply don’t give a shit what you have to say….”

@JKxZ was outspoken about his hate for the show because it allowed competitors who previously had record deals to be on the show. For Blake Shelton, there’s nothing wrong with a second chance. Have a look at some of their back-and-forth, which in itself is surprising, seeing a celebrity exchange that many words with a non-celeb on Twitter.

Twitter

Twitter

Do you side with Blake Shelton or his biggest critic? Should competitors be allowed on the show if they already got their shot before?

Peter Facinelli

Peter Facinelli will be our special celebrity guest at Women’s Night Out, and there’s no doubt many East Texans looking forward to meeting him March 31! There will be an opportunity for attendees at Women’s Night Out to meet one of the stars of Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie” and of the Twilight Saga movies! Now, my question to you is, if you got to ask Peter Facinelli one question, what would it be?

Our friend Lisa Thomas at Mix 93.1 will be interviewing Peter soon, and we would like to have him answer questions submitted by you! Just leave your question in the comment section below and let us know what city you live in. Your question could be used during Lisa’s interview with Peter. After Lisa interviews him, we’ll post portions of the interview on Mix931FM.com and on KNUE.com.

Here’s your chance to ask that one big burning question, so let us know now!

In the meantime, you can purchase your tickets for Women’s Night Out now and begin to plan your evening with your friends at the night that is designed for women!

'Ellen'

“We are not a couple.”

That is what Taylor Swift said more than once to Ellen DeGeneres on her namesake show this morning (Feb. 21) while promoting her animated film ‘The Lorax’ with hottie and supposed boyfriend Zac Efron. While they would make quite an attractive couple, Swift repeatedly shot down the rumors, though Ellen kept jokingly referring to them as a couple throughout their interview.

For his part, former ‘High School Musical’ star Efron smile slyly at Ellen’s repeated comments about their status, while Swift did her best to dismiss them. Does the lovely lady doth protest too much? Nah, we believe her. They’re not a couple, okay?

Ellen started out by saying, “You are both are adorable and adorable together, like a cute couple.” They responded in unison, “I knew this was going to happen.”

When speaking about how their diehard fanbases react to them, Swift said that lately, she has been getting a lot of crying fans, who come up to her shedding tears because they relate so much to her and her music. Efron joked, “She brings a tear to my eye,” to which Swift responded, “Aw, thanks.” Ellen pounced there, referencing their supposed coupledom. Again.

Swift put her well-heeled foot down later in the chat, saying, “We are not a couple. He’s awesome, we are not a couple though. You hear people get together when they’re shooting movies, co-stars. But not like animated co-stars. You know what I’m saying. Oh my God, as we were recording out voiceovers on separate coasts, we really connected.”

Swift also shared what she did on Valentine’s Day, which was throw a Pathetic Single Girls Party. “That was actually what it was called,” Swift said, qualifying that she doesn’t think single gals are pathetic. She continued, “I had my single girlfriends over and we had junk food, ate whatever wanted and danced, and made profile cards about why we were single.” Such a gal’s gal, isn’t she?

She also called the standing ovation she received at the 2012 Grammys one of the Top 5 moments of her life. Of course, DeGeneres pressed her about the other four, while joking that dating Zac Efron is one on the list. Swift claimed that “winning ‘Album of the Year’ at the Grammys, playing Gillette Stadium, playing with James Taylor, the standing ovation at the Grammys and buying my kitten” are her Top 5 moments in life.

Ellen also gifted each star with t-shirts sporting phrases about their relationship statuses, which they could change as things progress or devolve. Phrases such as “Lovers,” “Just friends,” “We Only Hooked Up Once” and “We Broke Up” were printed on the conversation tees. Efron joked about how that would really clarify things for the two as they dodge the rumors.

While on set, Efron and Swift laid down a cover of Foster the People’s ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ … though they reformatted the hit to fit their appearance on ‘Ellen.’ Watch below!

Watch Taylor Swift + Zac Efron on ‘Ellen’ Part 1

Watch Taylor Swift + Zac Efron on ‘Ellen’ Part 2

Watch Taylor Swift and Zac Efron Perform on ‘Ellen’

Source: TasteofCountry.com

YouTube

The world is filled with terrible news, so it’s nice for us to find a story with a happy ending once in awhile.  Not that type of happy ending. Pervert. Here is an amazing story about a Swedish man who was stranded in a snow drift for 61 days.

Snowmobilers came across the car thinking it was wreckage. They peeked inside to find someone wrapped in a sleeping bag in the back seat.  Rescuers dug the 45-year-old man out of the car, and he was so weak he could hardly speak–yet alone explain what happened.  He said he’s been in the car since December 19th. Probably hiding out so he didn’t have to buy his family Christmas gifts. The man survived by eating snow and icicles.

Humans can last up to four weeks without food, so its plausible that the man was stranded for as long as he said he was.  His body temperature was around 31 degrees Celsius when he was brought into the hospital.  With his body temperature so low, he wasn’t using much energy.  This also helped him to survive. Like bears, humans can also go into a dormant-like state (especially during football season).

[Via Yahoo]

Source: 1

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Rascal Flatts fans will want to plan a trip to their local multiplex on Thursday, April 5. That’s when the country power trio, in conjunction with AEG Live and NCM Fathom, will present a special, one-night-only theater event across the nation. The Flatts on the big screen? Does it get any better than that?

‘Rascal Flatts – CHANGED: One Night Exclusive Theater Event’ will take place at 8PM ET (as well as 7PM CT, 6PM MT and 8PM PT, tape delayed). The events that unfold on screen will provide exclusive, never-before-seen access into the lives the men who comprise Rascal Flatts: Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus.

But the band isn’t just pulling back the curtain for a sneak peek. In the film, Rascal Flatts will also include exclusive live performances of their biggest hits and play music from the upcoming album ‘Changed,’ which lands just two days before, on April 3, via Big Machine Records.

It’s a full-on Rascal Flatts event. Tickets will be available to the American public in early March by going here. So bookmark that site, grab a red Sharpie and circle April 5 on your calendars, Flatts fans. You’ll nosh on some popcorn, toss back some Diet Cokes and enjoy both personal and live footage of your favorite country threesome! But remember, it’s one night only, so get your ticket fast!

Source: TasteofCountry.com

This also means we now have two new challengers on the Duel.

Today, the new songs from Kix Brooks and Grammy Award winner The Civil Wars battle each other.n

First, here’s Kix Brooks with ‘New To This Town’

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI

And here’s The Civil Wars with their Grammy Award Winning ‘Barton Hollow’

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Now go to our KNUE Country Club to vote for your favorite song.

All right y’all, Stoney LaRue makes his return to the Piney Woods this Thursday, Feb. 23, where he’ll be live at Graham Central Station in Longview. And we are the only station giving our listeners the chance to Meet, Greet and See him FREE! If you want the chance, click here to enter our drawing. Last week he called into Radio Texas Live and told us unofficially what his next single might be, find out what it is and give it a listen in this RTX-cluxive.

“Has Been”? “Look at Me Fly”? “Te Amo Mas Que La Vida”? Find out what Stoney’s leaning towards for his next single.

Next we talked about his Autism Speaks benefit in Alaska and we played one more album cut off “Velvet” this one is “Wiregrass” a song co-written with Adam Hood.

Make sure y’all register for your chance to Meet and Greet Stoney by Thursday at noon. Winners will be emailed Thursday afternoon, so be sure to enter an email address and then check it. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with an exclusive Stoney LaRue performance from The KNUE Front Porch — see y’all Thursday night at Grahams.

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

Country hitmaker Joe Nichols and his wife, Heather, are about to get a visit from the stork, according to People. Nichols, who released his record ‘It’s All Good’ at the beginning of November, has one 13-year-old daughter, Ashelyn, from a previous relationship, but is extremely excited to be expecting for the first time with his wife of more than four years.

“After trying to have a baby for so long, we are thrilled to announce that I am pregnant,” Heather says. And the excited father-to-be adds, “I have to give all the credit to my wife — she has been a trooper through all of this, and I am so happy.”

The ‘Gimme That Girl’ singer married his wife in September of 2007 with a Georgia wedding, and they have been talking for a couple of years now about taking the next step to become parents together. After quite a bit of trying, they’re finally able to realize that dream and look forward to the arrival of a new little Nichols.

The country singer released a ‘Greatest Hits’ album last January, and this year he’s slated to perform at the WYRK Taste of Country concert June 1 at the Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, N.Y. along with Eric Church and Eli Young Band.

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Facebook

Classically trained pianist turned singer-songwriter Nicolle Galyon stood apart from the other country contestants on ‘The Voice‘ Monday night. Actually, she sat… while delivering a tender, piano driven version of Kenny Chesney‘s ‘You Save Me.’

Only Adam Levine spun around to watch the performance, meaning the Sterling, Kan. native will join his team when the show moves into the battle rounds. “I feel like I’m living a dream, I don’t know, my head’s in the clouds right now,” Galyon said after her audition, admitting that she would have chosen the Maroon 5 rocker had all four mentors fought for her.

“When you weren’t nervous you were so special,” Levine said. Blake Shelton added that the blonde singer didn’t get nervous until Levine spun around. Gaylon said at that point she felt like she had gotten what she came for so she lost focus.

According to her page on Facebook, Gaylon is a staff songwriter for Warner-Chappell Publishing. “I play piano. I write songs on the piano. I sing the songs i write on the piano,” she writes in her biography. The other coaches appreciated her desire to make the piano as important an instrument as the fiddle in Nashville, but also suggested she learn guitar.

The audience went wild when Levine spun around, and a big smile broke out across Gaylon’s face. Clearly excited, she said,”I don’t even remember the audience, I just felt like I was singing to these four chairs.”

Watch Nicolle Galyon Sing Kenny Chesney’s ‘You Save Me’ on ‘The Voice‘

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

Sugarland have long been embroiled in a lawsuit surrounding the August 13, 2011 stage collapse at their show at the Indiana State Fair. Now, responding to lawsuits coming at them, they’re claiming one last time that the incident, which left seven dead and more than 40 injured, was not their fault.

As Taste of Country previously reported, the stage collapsed after Sara Bareilles’ performance and just before Sugarland was about to take the stage. Since then, Indiana State Fair Commission executive director Cindy Hoye claimed in an affidavit that she sent the show’s promoter twice to the band and was told twice that they wanted to carry on with the show, making them responsible for negligence in the situation.

In response to the negligence claims, the duo are asserting that the fatal accident was just that – “a true accident, or an act of God,” according to CNN. In a court document, the band responded by saying that they “had nothing to do with the construction of the venue” and that the scaffolding collapse was due to a “gust of wind of unprecedented intensity.”

Responding to the civil lawsuit filed by several victims Nov. 22, the band maintained that they had nothing to do with the construction of the venue itself and that the claims were the result of “an open and obvious danger,” and that some of the plaintiff’s injuries “resulted from their own fault.” When all fingers started pointing at them, Sugarland began pointing at others, suggesting that they shouldn’t be the only ones held accountable for the horrific event. They say others played a part as well, including Indiana State Fair officials, Indiana State Police, member of the labor union who constructed the stage and the entire state of Indiana.

Their claim does seem to be backed by some empirical evidence, as a Feb. 8 report by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that the stage scaffolding was not constructed properly nor properly inspected after it was erected on the site. With all the finger pointing, Sugarland and their fans are left to wait and see where the lines fall in the end.

Source: TasteofCountry.com

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Kix Brooks will release his first Arista Nashville solo single, “New To This Town,” on March 19. After spending 20 years as one half of Brooks & Dunn, the most successful duo in country music history, Brooks is heading in his own direction.

The single features Joe Walsh (my favorite Eagle) and was co-written by Brooks and friends Marv Green (Brooks & Dunn’s Proud Of The House We Built) and Terry McBride (Brooks & Dunn hits If You See Him/If You See Her and Play Something Country).

“After a couple phone calls, and the sending of a music file across the internet, the man himself put his stamp on New To This Town like only Joe Walsh could,” Brooks said.

Kix has been keeping himself busy with his weekly countdown show, “American Country Countdown.” Check it Sunday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon on KNUE.

Some of you may not know Kix actually released an LP record in 1989 with Capitol Records. “Sacred Ground” was the only charted single out of three releases from that album. It reached No. 87 on the Billboard Country chart in 1989. Three years later, McBride and the Ride took the song to No. 2.

ETMC

For the second time in less than a month, a woman is robbed of her purse and injured during a holdup outside a Tyler hospital.

Tyler police said around 10:40 p.m. Monday night, an employee of East Texas Medical Center was leaving work when she was approached by a man armed with a knife. As he tried to steal her purse, the suspect stabbed the woman in the arm. The suspect then fled on foot with the victim’s purse. She was treated and released for her injury.

The suspect is described as a thin black male approximately 5-foot-8, weighing approximately 140 to 150 pounds.  The suspect was wearing a black hooded coat, red shirt, dark pants and tennis shoes.  The suspects head appears to be shaved.

An image of the man was captured by a security camera. Anyone with any information on the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Tyler Police Department.

Art Chance,  Vice President of Operations for ETMC Tyler has released the following statement:

East Texas Medical Center Tyler is taking steps to increase its level of on-campus security, including the immediate deployment of more security staff members.

With recent events, the security department has also evaluated on-campus security associated with cameras and lighting. To that end, we have made improvements to our overall system and will continue to upgrade our security technology. In both incidents that occurred recently, clear video images of the assailant were obtained, which are assisting law enforcement investigations.

Maintaining a safe environment requires that everyone remain vigilant and on guard. Employees and visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times and report any suspicious individuals loitering on campus.  ETMC security escorts to and from vehicles are available to anyone on request.

Anyone wishing to report a suspicious individual may contact the ETMC security department at 903-531-8800 or call the Tyler Police Department.

Hawkins Woman Guilty of Federal Drug Charge and Mail Fraud

TYLER – 38 year old Stacy Dianne Campbell entered the guilty plea today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love in Federal Court in Tyler.

According to information presented in court, on Dec. 2, 2010, Campbell purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a WalMart in Mineola, and made numerous other purchases on other occasions, for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine .

Also presented in court was information regarding Campbell’s 2008 charges of stealing mail from mailboxes and attempting to either cash or deposit the money contained within the mail into an account fraudulently set up under a fictitious name.

A sentencing date has not been set. Campbell faces up to 20 years on the drug charge and up to 5 years for the mail charge.

Got a Warrant? Get it Taken Care Of!

TYLER – Tyler is participating in a statewide warrant sweep that runs through March 4.

More than 250 agencies across Texas are taking part in the effort to resolve outstanding warrants.

Tyler is extending its hours to make additional arrests through the end of March.  The court will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate the increased number of persons needing to appear at the court window to pay their warrants.

Rusk County Drug Bust

MT. ENTERPRISE, Texas – A weekend drug bust in Rusk County has led to the arrest of seven people and netted officers more than 18 ounces of marijuana and over 10 grams of crack cocaine, prescription drugs, firearms and cash.

The seven suspects arrested were  Charles Ray Lewis, 54, of Mt. Enterprise, charged with Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a first degree felony, Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor, and Possession of Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor, with bonds totaling $30,000. Brodrick Demon Hall, 39, of Mt. Enterprise, was charged with Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance, first degree felony and Possession of Marijuana, State Jail Felony, with bonds totaling $20,000. Sheldon Ramon Starling, 34, of Mt. Enterprise, with a Parole Violation, and charged with Possession of Marijuana, State Jail Felony, bond set at $10,000.

Others arrested at the scene were Xavier Fitzgerald Bryant, 22, Quillan Demon Moore, 20, Nico Dekeith Jones, 20, all of Mt. Enterprise, and Anthony Benard Frazier, 19 of Marshall, all were charged with Possession of Marijuana, State Jail Felony, with all bonds set at $10,000 each.

DNA Experts to Testify at Torture Trial

WEATHERFORD — Testimony will resume today in the North Texas trial of a man who’s accused of torturing his former neighbor on a deer-skinning device and chaining her to a bed. DNA experts are expected to testify at Jeffrey Maxwell’s trial.

The 59-year-old faces up to life in prison.

Irrigation Water Likely Won’t Be Released

LISSIE — With Texas in one of the worst droughts in its history, water officials are widely expected to announce March 1 they won’t release irrigation water for thousands of farmers in the state’s rice-growing region.

The three counties likely to be affected by the Lower Colorado River Authority’s decision — Wharton, Colorado and Matagorda — are among the poorest in the state, with poverty levels above the national average.

Final Weeks Not Good for Rick Perry’s Checkbook

AUSTIN — Campaign finance reports show that in the final three weeks of his failed presidential campaign, Rick Perry raised $389,000 — but spent nearly $3.3 million.

It was a spectacular collapse for the Texas governor, who raised more than $17 million in donations