Carter BloodCare drives scheduled

Athens Masonic Lodge

sponsors blood drive

Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 will host Carter BloodCare for a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Brookshire’s, 807 E. Tyler St. in Athens.

The Masons will provide hot dogs and fixin’s for all who come and try to give blood. Anyone else can purchase a hot dog for $2, or a hot dog, chips and a drink for $5. Carter BloodCare will be giving a box of Girl Scout Cookies to anyone who signs up to give blood.

“Blood supplies have been depleted by a number of emergency events over the last several months, and a lack of donations,” said Daniel Hunt, blood drive chairman for the Athens Masonic Lodge. “Replenishing these blood supplies is necessary for emergencies in East Texas.”

Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 is a men’s fraternal organization that conducts charitable work in the Athens area.

The lodge has been active in Athens since 1854.

— Staff Reports

Police arrest man for

November shooting

The Jacksonville Police Department recently arrested a man in connection with a November shooting that injured one person.

J’Modrick Taylor, 23, was taken into custody Dec. 20 on a warrant for the Nov. 25 shooting in the 1000 block of San Saba Street, according to a Facebook post from the police department.

After responding to shots fired at the location at 5 p.m. that day, officers discovered that one person had been taken to the hospital for a gunshot wound to the neck, and multiple houses in the immediate area were hit by gunfire, according to a news release.

After an investigation, police determined there was a fight at the location, with several people pulling out handguns and firing multiple shots.

The incident is still being investigated and those with information are urged to contact the Jacksonville Police Criminal Investigations Division at 903-586-2548.

— Zak Wellerman

Man in jail for fight with deputies

A man on probation for a drug offense now faces more charges after being found in possession of an illegal drug and fighting with arresting deputies, according to information from Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.

Keaton Alan Carner, 28, was in Henderson County Jail on Wednesday, charged with possession, evading arrest/detention with a previous conviction and resisting arrest, the news release said.

Carter was pulled over on Tuesday on Twin Oaks Drive in the Athens area after he failed to signal a turn on his motorcycle and then was unable to produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance, the release said.

The arresting deputy reported that Carter had a knife and a substance believed to be an illegal drug and was resisting being taken into custody.

When investigators and other deputies arrived, Carter continued to put up a fight and tried to run, the news release said.

— Staff Reports

Man gets over 10 years

for drug trafficking

A Canton man was sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison Tuesday for possessing and intending to distribute methamphetamine.

Robby Dale Baker, 44, pleaded guilty on June 21 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to serve 130 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $8,000, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Based on information presented in court, Baker sold meth on three different occasions in March through May 2018. After a search warrant was obtained in May 2018, more meth, several firearms and ammunition were recovered from his Canton home, the release stated.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson prosecuted.

— Zak Wellerman