News

By Kevin Jefferies

Greenville – The West Wing expansion for Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville could see costs rise to nearly $30 million. Voters passed a $24 million bond package for the expansion is May of 2005. The West Wing would include a cancer center, a 16-bed ICU, third floor telemetry unit, and 24 private hospital rooms. But additional parking, asbestos abatement, and rising construction costs have put cost projections at $29.7 million.

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – A Commerce man has been sentenced for stealing dozens of parts over the course of a year from a Commerce business. 20 year old James Mahlon Patillo II pled guilty to theft of automotive parts from Hill Grain Company on 50 separate occasions. According to the indictment, Patillo stole brake pads, a bug screen, thermostats, gaskets, vehicle mirrors, spark plugs, a mud flap, an oil filter, a tire, a starter, and more over the course of a year from March 2002 to April 2003.

By Kevin Jefferies

Hunt County – Roadwork is slated to begin Thursday on Interstate 30 as it runs through Hunt County. The road surface will be receiving a seal coat of hot asphalt and rubber to the highway to improve the elasticity and durability of the roadway surface and provide more skid resistance for high speed traffic.

The project will begin at the Hunt/Rockwall County line and end about 3 miles past the Hunt/Hopkins County line. The work is expected to take about 14 days to complete, with traffic restricted to one lane.

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – The Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Council sponsored a conference Friday at A&M-Commerce to discuss looming funding problems for transportation in Texas. Texas Transportation Commission Chair Ric Williamson said there's an $86 billion difference between needed projects and available funding.

By Kevin Jefferies

Cooper – A group called Friends of Doctor's Creek Park has scheduled a meeting for tonight at the First Baptist Church Auditorium in Cooper. The group plans to discuss reduced operations at the Doctor's Creek Unit at Cooper Lake State Park. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has cut operations at state parks all across Texas due to budget constraints.

The meeting is set for 6:30 this evening in Cooper.

By Kevin Jefferies

Greenville – Continuing dry conditions in the area have prompted the Texas Forest Service to set up shop in Greenville. The Greenville City Council is slated to approve an emergency rental agreement allowing the state agency to utilize space Majors Field Municipal Airport and park aircraft at the facility.

All of Hunt County and most of the area remains under drought conditions, with no immediate end in sight. Most area counties are under outdoor burn bans as well.

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – The Clean Commerce Campaign is in Section C of the city this Wednesday. Section C covers the north side of Maple Street and the east side of Park Street. Each month, the city enters a different section of Commerce to pick up materials such as small tree limbs, tires and wheels that are separated, appliances, batteries, metal and brush.

Materials to be picked up should be curbside by 7am of the pick-up day in your area.

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – A shuttle service will be running from parking lots nearby to the 4th of July Celebration in Commerce this year. Senior Center Resources and Public Transit will be offering the service from the Middle School and Commerce Hardware parking lots to Bi-Centennial Park. City Manager Bill Shipp said the service should be a great help.

By Kevin Jefferies

Paris, Texas – The Lamar County Relay for Life event is set for overnight tonight. Relay for Life is the signature event for the American Cancer Society, and last year's Relay in Lamar County earned over $55,000 for the fight against cancer. This year's goal is $75,000.

Opening ceremonies begin at 6pm at R.L. Maddox Stadium in Paris and will last until 6am Saturday morning. Everyone is encouraged to attend some part of the Relay and help in the fight against cancer.

By Kevin Jefferies

Commerce – Commerce Elementary School and A.C. Williams Elementary will move from acceptable to recognized campuses in their state accountability ratings. The move is not official, but CISD officials believe the new rating is likely based on results of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. Last year, only the science portion of the TAKS test kept the campuses from the recognized level. This year, 89% of 5th graders passed that portion as compared to a statewide average of 75%.