By Scott Harvey

Royse City – A Dallas man was killed over the weekend after he was struck by a van while walking along the Interstate 30 service road.

The accident occurred Friday morning at around 4:25 a.m. between Royse City and Greenville.

21-year-old Jonathan Elvir died at the scene. Authorities have not charged the driver of the van.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the motorist was traveling eastbound on the I-30 North Service road when he struck Elvir who was walking in the eastbound lane of travel.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Several Greenville ISD employees have resigned early, accepting an incentive offered by the district in an attempt to cut their budget.

The incentive was open to the first 20 eligible Chapter 21 employees and the first 20 eligible non-Chapter 21 employees on a first come, first serve basis. Early Saturday, 13 professional staff and four support staff had shown up at the GISD Administration Building to claim the incentive.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – A memorial recital is planned this weekend for two Northeast Texas teachers and recent graduates of Texas A&M University-Commerce who were killed in a January car accident.

James and Laci Betterton were the victims of a head-on collision near Caddo Mills due to icy road conditions. The newlyweds each earned their degree in music education. James was employed at a Garland school while Laci worked in Rockwall, each as elementary music instructors.

By Scott Harvey

Mt. Pleasant – The Texas Education Commissioner has appointed Dr. Ray Glynn as Executive Director for Region 8 Education Service Center for a two-year period.

Dr. Glynn previously served as the Deputy and has had a lengthy career as a teacher and administrator in Texas, Massachusetts, Delaware and Colorado. He's replacing Harvey Hohenberger, who is retiring.

By Scott Harvey

– The latest jobless figures show encouraging signs locally, as several counties show fewer people out of work.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Hopkins County continues to sport the lowest area unemployment rate, dropping from 7.3 percent in January to 7.1 percent in February. Hunt County's rate dropped .2 percent to 9. While Delta County is listed as the highest unemployment area, their jobless rate dropped .7 percent last month to 9.9.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Sentencing is Monday for a suspect in a home invasion robbery last summer in Hunt County.

Joshua William McLemore, of Winnsboro, entered an open plea of guilty last month to a count of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

McLemore, along with Silas G. Reppond, also of Winnsboro, were arrested for last July's robbery at a residence near Lone Oak. Reppond has been indicted, but not yet be arraigned on the charge.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – A Hunt County jury on Friday rejected claims that Lanny Dean Campbell shot and killed James McKinnis in self defense in January 2010.

Campbell, of Wills Point, received 35 years behind bars. He had pleaded not guilty.

The jury also rejected the defense conclusion that the shooting occurred as a result of sudden passion of adequate cause.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – 78-year-old Billie Joyce Joyner has been identified as Saturday's victim of a two vehicle accident in Commerce.

Joyner, of Ladonia, had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Commerce Fire Department and was pronounced dead after being transported to Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville.

Witnesses tell police the victim was traveling southbound along Highway 50 at around 5:30 p.m. when she was struck by a westbound vehicle at the Highway 24 intersection.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – 17-year-old Sabien Zane Tatum, of Commerce, pleaded not guilty to five indictments Thursday, two of which were charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant.

The indictments also include one count each of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit theft, evading arrest and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Tatum allegedly broke into a Hunt County home in June 2010 and stole a video game console and games, a digital camera, jewelry and a printer.

Joshua Derr with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN joins the program to discuss healthcare reform. We also revisit our Friday Feature on the new Anglican-style service at the First United Methodist Church in Commerce.

The Lead: Friday, March 25, 2011