By Scott Harvey

Canton – A 35-year-old East Texas man has admitted to his role in a string of burglaries and an arson that occurred near Canton.

Chad Eric Darby turned himself in to the Van Zandt County Justice Center.

A 13-year-old juvenile was arrested at a residence in Kemp in connection with the crimes and is currently being housed at the Van Zandt County Juvenile Detention Center.

Investigators recovered over $50,000 of electronics, jewelry, firearms, tools and other miscellaneous items from area burglaries.

By Scott Harvey

Sulphur Springs – Sulphur Springs Police Capt. Norman Colyer has been named to replace retiring Hopkins County Precinct 1 Constable Roger "Tex" Maynard.

Colyer was selected from a field of 15 applicants for the position. He'll assume the duties on Jan. 1, and fill out the remaining two years of Constable Maynard's term.

Roger Maynard has served nearly 50 years in law enforcement as both a state trooper and constable.

By Scott Harvey

Cooper – A man believed to be passing fake $100 bills in at least two area counties has been arrested.

31-year-old Cresencio DeLeon Jr., of Naples, was being held in the Delta County Jail as of Wednesday on a forgery charge out of both Sulphur Springs and Cooper.

Authorities, however, believed DeLeon could be wanted in San Antonio for probation violation under another name.

Luke welcomes Larry Large in to speak about the big deer hunting tournament.

Outdoors with Luke Clayton 12-01-10

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Teodoro Vasquez pleaded guilty during a hearing Tuesday and was given four years behind bars.

Vasquez was accused of action alongside Armando Hernando Delapaz, also of Dallas. The pair was said to have stolen four trucks and shingles from Greenville in May 2009.

Delapaz was found guilty in February and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

By Brad Kellar

Greenville – Travis Wayne Nelson, of Hawk Cove, is alleged to have broken into a residence in August before setting it on fire, destroying the home.

He entered the not guilty plea Tuesday. An interim hearing in the case was set for June 6.

Nelson is currently free on $20,000 bond.

By Scott Harvey

Paris – Newly elected State Representative for District 3 Erwin Cain (R), of Como, has announced he will support Ken Paxton for Speaker of the Texas House.

Cain, who defeated incumbent Democratic opponent Mark Homer in the November elections will represent Lamar, Hopkins, Delta, Titus, Red River and Franklin Counties.

By Scott Harvey

Chicota – Former Lamar County Justice of the Peace James Nolan McCourt was laid to rest Wednesday.

McCourt died at his home in Chicota in northern Lamar County on Saturday. He was 79.

McCourt served as justice of the peace for the county beginning in the early 1990s.

Commerce – In the spirit of the season, the Commerce Chamber of Commerce will offer many gifts at no charge at the annual Christmas parade through the downtown area on Thursday, Dec. 2.
Free carriage rides, hot chocolate on the square, brownies and holiday punch at the Chamber office, and an open house with goodies at the public library.

The parade will leave from the City Park at 7 p.m. to make its way along Park, Main, and Washington streets. As the final surprise in the parade, Santa Claus will be tossing candy to youngsters along the route.

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – A proposal by the Lone Star Conference would give the A&M-Commerce Lions football team a game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

The proposed Lone Star Conference Football Festival would feature three games involving six teams, at least five from the LSC, to be played Sept. 17, 2011.