Two East Texans nominated for multiple CMA awards

(KLTV) -

Two East Texans have received multiple nominations from the County Music Association after the nominees for the 2013 CMA Awards were announced on Tuesday morning.

Mineola-native Kacey Musgraves, who first turned heads in 2012 with the release of her song "Merry Go 'Round," is nominated for six CMAs, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year ("Merry Go 'Round"), Album of the Year ("Same Trailer, Different Park"), Song of the Year ("Merry Go 'Round) and New Artist of the Year. Her sixth nomination is for co-writing Miranda Lambert's hit song "Mama's Broken Heart."

Meanwhile, Lindale's Miranda Lambert received three nods, including Single of the Year ("Mama's Broken Heart"), Female Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year ("Mama's Broken Heart").

You can see a complete list of the nominees here. 

The 47th CMA Awards, billed as "country music's biggest night," will be held on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 p.m. on ABC. 

Copyright 2013 KLTV. All rights reserved.

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East Texans headed to Colorado to aid in flood relief

TYLER, TX (KLTV) -

Colorado mountain towns cut off for days by massive flooding slowly reopened to reveal cabins toppled, homes ripped from their foundations and everything covered in a thick layer of muck. Several Texans have answered the call to travel to Colorado to help the victims of the floods.

According to the Tyler office of the American Red Cross, one person from Tyler is already on the ground to help with the flooding efforts. Another volunteer from Wood County should head to the area soon. Others may be called up if they are needed.

Overall, there are more than 20 Red Cross members from North Texas - two from the East Texas area -  in Colorado to provide assistance.

Colorado has been pummeled by up to 15 inches in the past seven days. At least five are confirmed dead and hundreds are still missing.

Copyright 2013 KLTV. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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East Texans mourn well known veteran

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) -

An East Texas man known as a champion for veteran issues has passed away.  Vietnam veteran William Perkins of Longview is remembered as the ultimate patriot. Flags at the VFW 1183 fly at half staff remembering the man who everyone knew as 'Perk'.

"I've been knowing Perk since 1958. William was the type of person , he was a father figure to a lot of men. When he was in Vietnam , he was a father figure to a lot of the kids over there. Veterans would tell him a hard luck story and he would reach into his pocket and give them 100, 200 dollars," says fellow Vietnam veteran and longtime friend Don Kinsey.   

Perkins died last night after a battle with cancer. But leaves behind a memory no one will forget.

"He had a presence about him. He would come up to you and let you know that he was your brother, and that you were welcome and you had a home," says fellow Vietnam veteran Marvin Ray Gibson. 

Perkins established VFW post 1183 in Longview, and never turned is back on a veteran. He helped start and commanded the Vietnam veterans of America 987 chapter and was a tireless worker for veterans issues. Perkins called all Vietnam veterans brothers.

"When he said brother, you were his brother. He spoke from the heart," says Kinsey.  

He said to others,  he left part of himself in Vietnam. And never forgot to help those who suffered the same.

"A lot of us are still there we haven't come home yet. He was struggling everyday to come back. Anybody he could , he would help. There's a lot of soldiers left on the battlefield that were fondly brothers to him and he still remembers them," Gibson says. 

Perkins was 68.

"I can't put it into words how much I'm going to miss him," Kinsey says.

A funeral service for William Perkins is set for Monday in Longview at Grace Hill cemetery at 10 am.

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