One of the victims of the Colorado shooting spent part of her childhood in Northeast Texas and is remembered by friends as a hard-working single mother who could light up a room with her smile and carefree spirit.

Rebecca Wingo of Aurora, Colo., graduated from high school in Quinlan, in Hunt County.

Cody Shafer was helping organize a gathering of friends Sunday in Aurora to remember the 32-year-old Wingo. He says Wingo performed his and his partner Marq's marriage ceremony in Iowa two years ago and remained a close friend.

Shafer says Wingo worked for a medical company and attended school, while raising her two daughters. She was an Air Force veteran.

She was among 12 people killed in a shooting rampage early Friday at a movie theater in Aurora.

 

Fire at Hollytree Country Club in Tyler Causes Smoke and Water Damage

The Tyler Fire Department responded to the two-alarm fire Sunday Morning at Hollytree Country Club in Tyler.

Employees reported the fire, which originated in the kitchen.  Firefighters arrived on scene to find light smoke showing from the structure.  A fast interior attack was made and the second alarm was called when firefighters discovered fire in the attic area.

The fire originated in a deep fryer.  The automatic fire extinguishing system in the kitchen did not activate, but the exhaust fan in the kitchen vent hood evacuated most of the heat and smoke, which prevented further smoke damage to the rest of the building and allowed firefighters to access the seat of the fire.  The automatic fire sprinkler system activated.  Heat caused the fire to spread into the attic.  Firefighters extinguished the fire and removed water from the kitchen and ballroom areas.

 

Angelina County Woman Guilty of HIPAA Violations

A 33-year-old Lufkin, Texas woman has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Joneshia Cranford pleaded guilty on July 20, 2012, to wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn.

According to information presented in court, from 2005 to 2008, Cranford, an employee of a Lufkin-area health care provider, stole protected health information, including patient names, dates of birth, social security numbers, Medicare numbers, and Medicaid numbers and sold the information to Shavator Albro, 35, and Francis “Frank” Ibiok, 28, both of Houston.  Cranford’s actions are a criminal violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Cranford faces up to 10 years in federal prison.  A sentencing date has not been set.  Albro and Ibiok have pleaded guilty to health care fraud and identity theft offences and face up to 15 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Texas Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (OAG-MFCU).  This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.

 

Longview Police Seeking Identity of Woman Passing Stolen Check

The victim of the forgery contacted Longview Police earlier this month, and told investigators he placed a check in his mailbox to be mailed around the end of May, 2012. On July 2, 2012, he realized the check had been altered and the suspect had passed the check at Ulta Cosmetics in Longview.

Police obtained several photos of the suspect. The suspect is described as a white female, with dark shoulder length hair pulled back in a ponytail. The suspect was wearing a light colored striped shirt with a dark bra and white Capri pants.

Police are asking anyone with information on the identity of this suspect to contact Longview Police Sgt. Chris Clark at 903-237-1199. If the tipster wishes to remain anonymous they can also contact Gregg County Crimestoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or submit a tip online at www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org.

 

 

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