By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The City of Commerce formally recognizes the efforts of hundreds who helped bring major improvements to City Park.

During a ceremony Thursday, The Commerce Parks Project thanked dozens of businesses and individuals for their financial support.

The approximately $32,000 raised was used as part of a $150,000 matching grant for which the City had to contribute $75,000. The remainder of the match came from city funds and in-kind services.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – The Texas A&M University-Commerce flag is at half staff Thursday, in memory of 24-year-old Kayla Roberts, who was the victim of a shooting that occurred Monday in Lamar County.

Funeral Services for Roberts, a resident of Paris, were conducted Wednesday. She had previously attended Paris Junior College and was scheduled to graduate from A&M-Commerce this December.

By Brent Lyday

Commerce – The Texas A&M University-Commerce social work department was recently awarded a $282,478 grant for three years by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, to develop and enhance approaches to stop violence against women on campus.

Project RESPECT (Respond, Empower, Support, Protect, Educate, Coordinate, and Train) will develop partnerships between university departments, community victim services, criminal justice, and relevant entities.

By Scott Harvey

– You can still cast a ballot if you've moved from one county to another in the last 30 days and haven't registered to vote.

But you'll have to do so by the end of early voting.

Collin County Elections Administrator Sharon Row says you'll only be able to vote for races in common between the two counties. Row says you'll have to vote at your county's main early voting location as well.

Early voting ends Friday at 7 p.m.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Ronald Anthony Price entered the plea during an arraignment hearing Monday.

He's alleged to have used a knife to threaten a male victim in March.

The indictment against Price shows a previous felony convicted for the possession of prohibited weapons in Delta County in 2007.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The Greenville City Council again gives its approval for a proposed mixed-use development covering thousands of acres west of the City.

This is the second time around for the huge Municipal Utility District (MUD), which is being proposed by Walton Development & Management (USA) Inc.

The previous attempt died in the Texas Legislature in 2009. The company intends to present the same plan to lawmakers next year, but needed the help of the City Council to get the process started.

By Scott Harvey

Powderly – A nine-year-old boy remains in critical condition following a Monday shooting in Lamar County that left two women dead.

The apparent murder-suicide occurred in the Powderly area, about 12 miles north of Paris.

Salida Young apparently went to her spouse's house and shot their son, then fatally shot Kayla Roberts before taking her own life.

Lamar County Sheriff B.J. McCoy says that the shooting may have been the result of a custody dispute.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The Greenville City Council voted Tuesday to hire a Dallas-based firm to help draft plans for the $1 million renovation of Graham Park.

La Terra Studio Incorporated was chosen from 14 companies to provide professional services for the preparation of design and construction documents for the project.

A $500,000 grant awarded to the City from the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife requires a $500,000 match.

Improvements will include fountains, a fishing pier, a dog park and splash park.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The Greenville City Council moves a step closer to bringing in a new power plant, after conducting a second public hearing on the facility Tuesday night.

Danny M. Vines, president of Lufkin-based Greenville Energy LLP, stressed $12 million of the $105 million plant will be dedicated to environmental controls. The plant will require approximately 70 daily loads of biomass.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – Following a one and a half hour executive session Monday, the Paris City Council voted 4-3 to begin the process to terminate City Manager Kevin Carruth.

The city attorney will now draft a resolution to suspend Carruth for what is described as a failure to comply with contractual obligations, deficient performance and failure to comply with established policies and procedures.