By Brad Kellar

Texarkana – The fate of a Greenville man, sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking, is upheld upon appeal.

Ernest Lee McFail was arrested in December 2009 for selling crack cocaine.

The Sixth Court of Appeals in Texarkana on Tuesday upheld the ruling, which McFail had appealed citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

McFail was one of dozens of individuals arrested in the region during a major law enforcement interdiction in December 2009.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – The Sulphur Springs ISD joins a large group of Texas school districts in a campaign to inform legislators of a need for change to the current school finance system.

Administrators on Monday passed a resolution of acknowledgment Making Education a Priority, a campaign that originated through the Aledo ISD, west of Fort Worth.

The Commerce and Greenville ISD's passed the same measure this fall. The Texas legislature convenes in January.

By Brad Kellar

Commerce – A large portion of Northeast Texas residents will be getting their water from a new company this week.

The final meeting of the North Hunt Water Supply Corporation, based in Commerce, will be conducted Thursday, after which it will convert to the North Hunt Special Utility District.

Voters approved the change during the May election.

The new district will continue to serve its current customers outside of Commerce, Ladonia and Wolfe City.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The Greenville Towne Center is to be built along the Interstate 30 south frontage road will cover approximately 60 acres.

The Greenville City Council approved the agreement Tuesday night.

Site plan for the project shows room for major retail anchor tenants, a hotel, restaurants, a possible multi-family development and smaller parcels with access from both frontage road and Roy Warren Parkway.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – Investigators say a vacant house in downtown Sulphur Springs that was destroyed by fire may have been deliberately set.

Firefighters responded to the scene early Tuesday morning along Fore Street and found the structure completely engulfed in flames. There were no injuries.

The local Red Cross provided rehab and canteen services to emergency responders on scene.

By Scott Harvey

Pickton – For the second time in as many days, a person is killed following a wreck along Highway 11 in Hopkins County.

74-year-old Melvin Bell, of Sulphur Springs, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday south of Pickton near Harmony Assembly of God.

State troopers believe Bell's car crossed the center line and hit a pickup hauling a trailer. He had to be cut out of his demolished car.

By Scott Harvey

Titus County – A Titus County man is identified as one of two men killed in a Monday morning wreck where two commercial trucks collided head-on.

Javier Galvez, of Winfield, was driving a Pilgrim's Pride truck when it crashed into a frozen pizza truck driven by Gilbert Tommy of Wichita, Kansas.

The wreck occurred on Hwy 49 East of Mt Pleasant. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of the crash has not been determined.

By Scott Harvey

Martin Springs – A two vehicle collision Tuesday morning in Hopkins County has claimed the life of a woman.

62-year-old Sarah Dicky was reportedly t-boned by a pickup after pulling out of a private driveway this morning along Hwy 11 in Martin Springs. Dicky was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no other injuries reported.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – The Greenville City Council is asking state lawmakers for the creation of a massive proposed development.

Council is to vote Tuesday night on a resolution for the City's legislative agenda, which they hope is addressed during the upcoming session.

The main item is a Municipal Utility District (MUD) being proposed by the Walton Development Group. It is a mixed use development covering more than 6,600 acres north and south of U.S. Hwy 380 just west of the city limits.

On tap this week is Crappie fishing as Luke Speaks with guide Billy Kilpatrick.

Outdoors with Luke Clayton 12-15-10