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Law enforcement save man from burning house, receive award for bravery/heroism

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Bravery Heroism

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons recognized Corporal Roper Ellison and Deputy Darin Brooks for saving a man from his burning home, presenting them with heroism and bravery awards, during a moving ceremony Dec. 22.

On the morning of Dec. 19, dispatch received a call that a residence in the 400 block of Don Reily Drag in Wiggins Village No. 2 was on fire and that the homeowner, who was disabled and in a wheelchair, had made it to the front porch but could not exit the residence which was fully engulfed.

“It was a large fire and they stepped out of the vehicle and ran into the house on fire,” Lyons said.

Both men ran into the fire with Ellison physically picking up the homeowner and carrying him from the fire and Brooks ensuring that both his partner and the homeowner made it to safety.

“I am a very proud sheriff. I’m honored to stand here today and talk about the bravery and courage these men displayed last Sunday. These guys get out of bed, leave their wives and kids, not knowing if they’ll return to their homes at the end of the day,” Lyons said.

“This is what I’m talking about when I say honor. They have the love of community. A lot of my guys are from right here. They know the community. They know the culture,” Lyons said.

“I was listening to this on the radio. They were on point. They were taking care of business. First, the hair on the back of your neck stood up and then the tears flowed. This is selflessness, courage, honor,” Lyons said.

The sheriff cited the General Norman Schwarzkopf quote about courage, “True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that’s what courage is.”

Lyons played the video from the dash cam for those attending the ceremony. He said that just 20 seconds later the entire porch was engulfed.

“A lot of times we’re left out, but law enforcement officers are heroes. They stepped out on faith when they exited that vehicle to save a life they didn’t know. Heroes wear a badge,” Lyons said, adding, “Both had other careers before they came into law enforcement, but they both had the zeal that they wanted to serve their community.

“It tugs on your heartstrings a little bit,” Lyons said.

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11-year-old shot while sleeping

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Shooting GraphicFrom Enterprise Staff

A subject wanted in connection with the shooting of an 11-year-old girl Sunday has turned himself in to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office but has not been charged.

“This investigation is ongoing and the local Texas Ranger is assisting,” Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the 2500 block of FM 1988 around 2 a.m. Sunday that someone had shot into the residence. Deputies arrived at the scene and found that an 11-year-old female who was asleep in bed had been shot.

The sheriff’s office initially sought assistance in locating a person of interest named Avery Norman who was possibly driving either a black Dodge or a black older-model four-door Acura. Norman turned himself in but no charges had been filed as of press time.

Lyons said the child is expected to make a complete recovery.

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Livingston man dies in helicopter crash

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AdobeStock illustrationAdobeStock illustration

A Livingston man is dead following a helicopter crash that occurred shortly before noon Thursday near Galloway Lane and Hwy. 146. Three other passengers were transported from the scene with injuries.

Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash which involved a Bell 206 helicopter. According to Texas DPS, troopers secured the scene for investigators and the FAA was notified.

Identification of the deceased and injured is being withheld until family is notified.

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Local charged with murder of brother

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PEGGY SIMMONSPEGGY SIMMONSFrom Enterprise Staff

Peggy Sue Simmons, 63 of Livingston, has been charged with murder in conjunction with the death of her brother, Aaron Earl Figgs, 67 of Leggett.

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to Figgs’ home at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Dec. 6. Upon arrival, detectives discovered Figgs deceased in his bed, with evidence of possible foul play. Simmons was at the house at the time of Figgs’ death and was interviewed by detectives at the scene.

Detectives attended the autopsy of Figgs the following morning at the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office where it was determined that he died from an injury sustained by an event which caused him to bleed to death.

With sufficient probable cause, detectives obtained an arrest warrant on Dec. 22 charging Simmons with murder. She was subsequently arrested at the Pardon and Parole Office in Huntsville and transported to the Walker County Jail. She was on parole for unrelated events and her parole was revoked at that time.

“I’d like to express my gratitude for the hard work and professionalism displayed by the criminal investigation division, along with the Polk County District Attorney’s Office and the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office. Their hard work collectively brought justice for Mr. Aaron Earl Figgs and his family,” Sheriff Byron Lyons said.     

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Seeking an anti-mosquito molecule

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Research takes novel approach to protect from bites, disease

 

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a known carrier of diseases that pose a threat to humans. Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Gabriel HamerThe Aedes aegypti mosquito is a known carrier of diseases that pose a threat to humans. Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Gabriel Hamer

By Adam Russell
AgriLife Extension

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are on a mission to create a new weapon against disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Patricia Pietrantonio, Ph.D., a Texas A&M AgriLife Research Fellow and professor in the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is leading a three-year project toward a new method of mosquito control. The project will focus on Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus species, which occur in Texas and around the globe.

The team aims to identify molecules that can protect deployed U.S. armed forces members from mosquito bites and vector-borne diseases like Zika fever, yellow fever, Dengue fever and West Nile. A $672,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, DOD, is funding the study.

Most mosquito control utilizes pyrethroid-based products or malathion, an organophosphate, Pietrantonio said, but the DOD is looking for insecticides with new modes of action because the disease-carrying insects are developing resistance to those insecticides.

Female mosquitoes, especially in known disease-vector species, bite to feed on blood, which is necessary for egg production, she said. The study is based on established research but focuses on a novel approach relating to receptors in mosquito mouth parts, legs and internal organs.

“We really don’t know what will happen at this point, but this is of interest because our research is investigating a novel mode of action for mosquito control,” she said. “This is a completely different approach that will be a multidisciplinary effort with many different players.”

Toxic molecule provides potential against mosquito bites

Pietrantonio said AgriLife Research scientists and graduate students will be a part of the project in collaboration with the laboratory of James Sacchettini, Ph.D., the Rodger J. Wolfe-Welch Foundation Chair and professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and collaborators in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M and in Portugal.  

The project aims to test small synthetic molecules that may be used to create a compound toxic to mosquitoes. Pietrantonio and her team have screened more than 20,000 molecules and discovered several that could potentially inhibit bites, modify mosquito behavior or kill the insects.

The project will test those molecules’ impact on female mosquitoes. To test efficacy, the team will offer the chemicals to mosquitoes in a feeding mix of blood or will apply them directly to the insect.

Pietrantonio hypothesizes that a successful chemical will prevent bites by disrupting mosquitoes’ sensory signals. In prior testing, the team conducted a high-throughput screen of chemical libraries owned by AgriLife Research. From that screen, three molecules ended up causing paralysis of the hindgut in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are known carriers of yellow fever and other diseases.

Those molecules and others will be tested further with the goal of producing a protective compound.

“Right now, we are trying to see if the synthetic molecules chosen that have drug-like characteristics will affect the mosquitoes,” she said. “Whether they interrupt feeding or lead to paralysis or death, we want to determine how they might impact the insect and prevent bites.”

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